CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Private aortic valve replacement or repair surgery
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care
- 100% success rate for private aortic valve surgery
- Aortic valve replacement and repair from expert cardiologists
- Five specialist cardiac hospitals across London and Birmingham
- 99% of patients would recommend our cardiac care to friends and family
PRIVATE AORTIC VALVE SURGERY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
Gain fast access to expert care from our specialists in heart valve surgery, with an appointment with a consultant within 24 hours. As the UK’s No.1 provider of private cardiac care, we carry out the highest volume of procedures across our network of leading hospitals, so you can rest assured you’ll be in safe hands.
What’s more, our pioneering minimally invasive techniques will help you get you back to your daily life as quickly and safely as possible. No wonder 99% of the 36,000 people we treat each year say they’d recommend us to family and friends.
What’s more, our pioneering minimally invasive techniques will help you get you back to your daily life as quickly and safely as possible. No wonder 99% of the 36,000 people we treat each year say they’d recommend us to family and friends.
The aortic valve is one of four heart valves that keep the blood flowing in the right direction. When one of these valves stops working, it can stop the blood flowing round the heart properly and force the heart to pump harder and you may need aortic valve replacement or repair surgery.
Your aortic valve may stop working due to wear and tear, an infection or you may have a congenital defect causing a narrowing of the valve (stenosis) or regurgitation.
Your aortic valve may stop working due to wear and tear, an infection or you may have a congenital defect causing a narrowing of the valve (stenosis) or regurgitation.
Surgery to fix or replace the aortic valve is still considered the standard treatment for severe aortic stenosis. During an aortic valve procedure, a heart surgeon either repairs the valve or replaces it with a new one. The new valve can be either biological (from a donor or animal) or mechanical. The surgery can be done through a traditional open-chest approach or using a smaller, minimally invasive “keyhole” method, depending on what your consultant feels is the best approach for you.
For some patients, especially those who may be at higher risk from open-heart surgery, a less invasive option called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) may be used. In this procedure, a new valve is guided to the heart through a blood vessel, usually in the groin. Once in place, it expands and starts working right away.
For some patients, especially those who may be at higher risk from open-heart surgery, a less invasive option called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) may be used. In this procedure, a new valve is guided to the heart through a blood vessel, usually in the groin. Once in place, it expands and starts working right away.
An aortic valve replacement procedure is performed by experienced cardiac surgeons. Your faulty or diseased aortic valve is removed and replaced with a new one, with the aim of restoring normal blood flow around your body. Your new valve may be mechanical or biological, made of human or animal tissue.
Aortic valve replacement is typically recommended over a repair when the valve is severely calcified, narrowed or structurally deformed.
Aortic valve replacement is typically recommended over a repair when the valve is severely calcified, narrowed or structurally deformed.
Your consultant will take a detailed medical history and review the results of your investigations before discussing your case with a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
At HCA UK, our MDTs bring together experts from all cardiac specialties and subspecialties, ensuring that every aspect of your condition is considered and that you receive the most appropriate treatment tailored to your individual needs.
At HCA UK, our MDTs bring together experts from all cardiac specialties and subspecialties, ensuring that every aspect of your condition is considered and that you receive the most appropriate treatment tailored to your individual needs.
The decision between traditional surgery and TAVI is made by a team of heart specialists who will carefully consider your overall health, your age and your heart anatomy, as well as your personal preferences and lifestyle needs. On this basis they will recommend the safest and most effective option for you.
36,000+
Cardiac patients treated every year
99%
Success rate across all cardiac surgery
250+
Cardiology consultants for you to choose from
Next-day appointments
See a specialist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis in as little as 24 hours.
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours.
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Choose from 5 hospitals and 15 diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham.
YOUR PATIENT JOURNEY
Understanding the aortic valve surgery process
From the moment you step through the door, until you’re ready to leave, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible. We do this by letting you know what to expect at each stage of the surgery to repair or replace your aortic valve.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or in the FAQ section below, please contact your patient support team or clinical nurse specialist who will be able to help.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or in the FAQ section below, please contact your patient support team or clinical nurse specialist who will be able to help.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you’ve self-referred, or you have a referral from a GP, your first consultation will usually be with one of our cardiac specialists so they can examine you, find out more about your symptoms, and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Your consultant will ask you about your medical history and symptoms and arrange any imaging or diagnostic tests you might need.
Typically, patients needing aortic valve replacement and repair are aged 60 to 75 years old. Older patients usually need the procedure for age-related valve disease, whereas the younger patients we see sometimes require surgery for congenital valve issues.
02
Tests and scans
In most cases, your cardiac tests and imaging scans will be completed within the same week, with results available in as little as 48 hours.
The investigations may include:
- Echocardiogram (Transthoracic/Transoesophageal)
- Coronary angiogram
- CT scan with 3D reconstruction
- Chest X-ray
- Blood tests
Aortic valve replacement surgery is a safe but serious procedure. So, your results will then be reviewed by our cardiac multidisciplinary team, which meets regularly to discuss each case and ensure that treatment decisions follow the highest standards of care in line with GMC guidelines.
03
Your procedure
The duration and process of your procedure will depend on the type of operation you need. Your consultant will discuss suitable treatment options with you in more detail.
04
Follow-up and after care
Immediately following surgery, you will spend a day or more in intensive care, before being moved to the cardiac ward to recover. Your stay in hospital may be just a few days if you have had a minimally invasive procedure – or around a week for open surgery.
You'll need to arrange for someone to take you home from hospital. You'll also need help at home for a couple of weeks following the procedure. Recovery from open heart surgery can take several weeks, with restrictions on lifting and strenuous activity. If you have a minimally invasive procedure, you may benefit from faster recovery times.
If you are taking anticoagulants, you will need to have regular blood tests locally until you are stabilised on the tablet. You will be seen by your consultant about six weeks after the operation. You may be offered cardiac rehabilitation to help with physical and mental recovery.
If you are taking anticoagulants, you will need to have regular blood tests locally until you are stabilised on the tablet. You will be seen by your consultant about six weeks after the operation.
Aortic valve surgery can be a major procedure that may require up to three months of recovery time if you’ve had an open-heart valve replacement. You may be offered cardiac rehabilitation which can greatly help with physical and mental recovery.
If you have a more serious condition or poorer general health going into an open-heart operation, recovery sometimes takes as long as six months.
OUR FACILITIES
Find private aortic valve surgery near you
Across our extensive network of hospitals and treatment centres in London and Birmingham, our leading consultants are here to support you from the initial consultation through to aftercare and rehabilitation. HCA UK has some of the best heart valve surgeons in the UK and you can opt to have your aortic valve repair or replacement surgery at any the following locations:
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Aortic valve surgery FAQs
While all surgery carries risks, aortic valve surgery is generally safe. Your surgeon will discuss any potential complications with you, including the risk of infection, bleeding or blood clots. They will also discuss the risks of not having surgery.
Your consultant will explain the procedure, explain any side effects and answer any questions you may have. They will give you details of how to prepare for your surgery. As you'll be having a general anaesthetic, they will ask you to stop eating and drinking for six hours or more beforehand.
Your consultant will let you know whether you need valve replacement or repair surgery.
- Valve repair. The valve can be repaired in several ways. This includes patching holes with tissue, separating fused valve cups or reshaping tissue so the valve closes properly. This is rarely performed and is only possible for some patients.
- Valve replacement. During this surgery, whether open or minimally invasive, the surgeon removes the diseased valve and implants a long-lasting replacement. During a TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) procedure, a new valve is delivered via a catheter, usually through the femoral artery, positioned within the diseased valve, and expanded using a balloon.
- An aortic valve repair procedure fixes your existing valve by patching tears, reshaping tissue, or tightening the valve ring, allowing you to retain your natural heart tissue.
- Aortic valve replacement surgery completely removes the faulty valve and substitutes it with an artificial mechanical or biological valve.
Cardiac surgeons prefer to conduct a repair whenever possible, as it preserves your natural heart function and it lowers risks too, as it’s more durable long-term.
Heart valve replacement surgery can take anywhere between 1 and 6 hours, depending on the surgical method that your consultant cardiologist recommends, your overall health and the complexity of your cardiac condition.
As a rough guide:
- Minimally invasive surgery takes 1 to 2 hours and surgeons make smaller incisions, meaning less tissue damage and faster recovery.
- Catheter-based procedures such as TAVI also take 1.5 to 2 hours and, as the valve is inserted through a small tube in the groin or chest, it’s the least invasive method, often taking only a short time in the operating room.
- Open-heart surgery takes 3 to 6 hours, and your surgeon will make a large incision in the chest and carry out the replacement while you’re supported by a heart-lung bypass machine.
You can expect to stay in hospital for anything from a few days to a week after your procedure, depending on your specific condition and the type of surgery you’re having.
Recovery from open heart surgery can take several weeks or even a couple of months, although you may benefit from faster recovery times following a minimally invasive procedure. If you have a more serious condition or poorer general health going into open-heart valve replacement, recovery is sometimes as long as six months.
If you have a biological valve replacement, you may need to take an anticoagulant medicine for two to three months. This is to prevent blood clotting on the new valve and the sutures. If you have a mechanical valve replacement, you’ll need to continue with this medication for the rest of your life. Your consultant and team will provide all the information you need on what to expect after surgery.
You may be able to return to work a few weeks after your surgery, but this will depend on the type of job you have – whether your job involves manual or strenuous activity for example. Your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine.
We recorded a 100% success rate for all aortic valve procedures (open heart sternotomy and minimally invasive procedures) carried out at HCA UK facilities between January 2022 and December 2024.
Patient stories
How a valve replacement helped Steve breathe easy again
When Steve found out his breathlessness was caused by a narrowed aortic valve, he was terrified of the thought of the open-heart surgery that might be needed to treat it. But with the expertise of Professor Sagar Doshi at The Harborne Hospital, he learned he could have a ‘keyhole’ alternative called TAVI.
Kirti's heart rhythm story
How a life-changing cardiac procedure stopped Kirti worrying about her heart health. Kirti first felt a heart palpitation back in 2016 whilst out shopping. After delaying seeking specialist advice, she sought the expertise of Dr Mike Koa-Wing, Consultant Cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, in 2020 after the palpations got worse. Here Kirti shares her story.
Solving Alex’s undiagnosed heart condition
At the age of 12, dancer Alex Brookes began experiencing irregular heart palpations. After initially being told it was nothing to worry about, her symptoms persisted and her mum decided it was best to seek medical advice and chose The Portland Hospital.
“From the receptionist to the nurses, to the TAVI team, everyone was faultless and helped put me at ease.”
Reviewed by