Cardiology and Heart Surgery Abroad

The free planning call connects you with the hospital's team to discuss treatment, costs, and travel logistics. It is not a medical consultation. A paid second opinion connects you with a licensed cardiologist. They read your case and give you a clear medical view on your diagnosis and options.

It is also called minimally invasive cardiac surgery, or MICS. Instead of opening the breastbone, the surgeon works through small incisions between the ribs. Some centres do this with robotic assistance. The aim is a smaller wound and a shorter stay. Whether it fits you depends on which vessel or valve is involved, and that is read off your own angiogram.

We publish no single figure, because it depends on the procedure and on you. For open surgery the NHS states it usually takes 2 to 3 months to fully recover from a bypass. Keyhole surgery aims to be shorter than that. Your own number comes from the team treating you. Ask for it in writing before you book flights.

That is your call, and nobody should push it either way. A second opinion is common before an operation this size. It is not a complaint about your surgeon. Here a licensed cardiologist reads your angiography report, your echo and your letters. You keep your own cardiologist and your own hospital. Often the second opinion agrees with the first. That is an answer too.

You need two things, and you probably have both. The images and reports themselves, not only the summary letter. And your referral letter, if you have one. You upload them, you pick a cardiologist who speaks your language, and you talk on video. No travel is involved. You see the price before you book.

In our network a coronary bypass starts from €8,500 and a heart valve replacement from €12,000. Those are starting points, not quotes. The number of grafts, the type of valve and your other conditions all move the figure. The hospital prices your case after reading your file. A few procedures carry no price on this page at all. For those the device or the technique decides most of the cost. So we ask you to contact us instead.

Heart surgery waiting times move, and they differ per trust, so we publish no current figure. Research published by HDR UK reports a pre-pandemic peak of 193 days in March 2019. It reports a further peak of 202 days in February 2022, for non-urgent heart surgery. Check your own trust for where you stand today. If waiting is your reason for looking abroad, say so on the call. We will be straight with you about timing.

Safety here is mostly about who you book through. Every cardiac hospital and specialist in our network is reviewed by our medical advisory board before joining. That review covers clinical credentials, the cardiac unit and the team's experience with complex cases. You see the hospital, the plan and the price before you commit. You have a video call with the team who would treat you. What no one can take away is the risk that comes with a cardiac procedure itself. That is explained to you against your own test results, before you decide anything.

Your cardiologist and cardiac care team stay reachable through the Rehealth app. For routine concerns, they can advise remotely. For anything more serious, the hospital or clinic where you were treated takes responsibility for the follow-up care. Rehealth helps you track the process through the app. Whatever the hospital confirmed in writing before treatment continues to apply after you return.

Plan 3 to 5 days on site for a diagnostic angiography and 5 to 7 days for an angioplasty with a stent. Open-heart surgery needs 12 to 15 days. Those figures cover the hospital stay plus the days afterwards when the team checks the wound and confirms you are fit to fly. For reference, MedlinePlus states you spend 3 to 7 days in hospital after a bypass. The NHS states most people are in hospital about a week. Most cardiac procedures do not need a second trip, because follow-ups can be done remotely.

They answer different problems, so one is not simply better than the other. The NHS states that "while angina can often be treated with medication, a coronary angioplasty may be required to restore the blood supply to the heart in severe cases where medication is ineffective", and that "if many coronary arteries have become blocked and narrowed, or the structure of your arteries is abnormal, a coronary artery bypass graft may be considered". Which one fits you is read off your own angiogram, together with your other conditions. Anyone who answers this before seeing that report is guessing.

The NHS is direct about this: "There is currently no cure for atrial fibrillation, but treatment should help manage the symptoms and lower the risk of complications." Ablation is one option among several, alongside anticoagulants, rate and rhythm medicines, cardioversion and, in some cases, a pacemaker. The 2024 ESC Guidelines put your other conditions and risk factors first, before any rhythm procedure. They also build in reassessment over time. If a clinic promises you a cure, treat that as a warning sign.

That is decided by the team treating you, not by your return ticket. The British Heart Foundation states "you should always check with your GP or heart specialist that you are fit enough to travel by air", "particularly if you've recently had a heart attack, heart surgery or been in hospital due to your heart condition". We plan 12 to 15 days on site for open-heart surgery and 5 to 7 days for a stent. The date is confirmed at your discharge check. The BHF also advises keeping your medicines in your hand luggage and carrying an up-to-date list of your doses.

We cannot answer that for your policy, and nor can the hospital until they ask. But you do not have to predict it. Are you insured, in any country? We ask you for your insurance card and take it to the hospital. Based on their offer they speak to your insurer about the limits and the cover. You get that answer before you travel. One thing is worth knowing first. In most of Europe cardiac care is already covered at home. So the number to compare ours with is what you would pay yourself.

Payment is made directly to the hospital or clinic, usually by card or bank transfer at the time of treatment. Some partners accept partial payment up front and the rest after completion. Your planning call covers payment options in detail, before you commit to anything.

Yes, and we encourage it for longer treatments. Bringing a partner, family member, or friend is straightforward. They're not part of the treatment cost. The coordinator can help with accommodation suggestions for both of you.

Each hospital and clinic profile lists the languages that team works in. You can filter by language when you choose where to go. Tell us at the start which language you want the planning call in and we arrange it. Your discharge summary and operative report are shared in a language your own GP or cardiologist can read.

Every potential partner is reviewed by our medical advisory board before joining the network. The review covers their clinical credentials, the cardiac facilities and equipment, and the experience of their surgeons and cardiologists (case volume, board certifications, complication rates). It also covers their track record on outcomes and patient communication.

Ask this in writing, and ask before you pay. Implanted cardiac devices such as stents, pacemakers and heart valves carry the manufacturer's own warranty. The terms differ per device and per manufacturer. We do not publish a single figure for all of them, because there is not one. What the hospital confirms in writing before treatment starts is your device warranty. It also confirms the follow-up plan and how to reach the team with a concern.

That's fine. The planning call is free and carries no obligation. Many patients book a call months before they actually plan to travel, just to understand their options and budget. You can come back any time.

Yes. The whole point of the planning call is to give you a clear cost estimate and treatment plan with no commitment. You decide whether to move forward after seeing your options.

That depends on where you live and what your policy covers. In many European systems heart surgery is covered by basic insurance. In our network it is paid. The offer is built around your case. Ask your own insurer first, before you compare any figure.

It varies by country and by hospital. We do not publish a single number. Ask your own hospital for its current figure. If the wait is long, ask your insurer what it can do. Waiting is also not lost time. Your file can be read while you wait.