CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care*
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours**
- 99% of our cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family***
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MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIAC SURGERY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
If you’re worried about your heart health, you’ll be in safe hands if you choose HCA UK. You can benefit from our highly personalised approach to care, delivered by some of the UK’s leading consultants. They’re part of a team who look after over 36,000 heart patients each year, which is more than any other UK private healthcare provider.
Our experienced teams have achieved a 99% success rate across all our cardiac surgery. It's why we’re the UK’s No.1 for private cardiac care and why 99% of our cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family.
Minimally invasive heart surgery allows your cardiac surgeon to reach your heart area by making small incisions in your chest. They’ll either enter between your ribs or by dividing the upper part of your breastbone (sternum). This second approach is known as a mini-sternotomy, and it’s commonly used for aortic valve or ascending aorta surgery.
There are other types of minimally invasive heart surgery, including robot-assisted heart surgery and thoracoscopic surgery.
The big benefit of minimally invasive cardiac surgery is that you’ll have smaller incisions compared with traditional open-heart surgery. That means you’ll have less pain and usually experience a much faster recovery too, with less time in hospital and a quicker return to your everyday life.
Other benefits include:
- Lower risk of infection
- Less blood loss
- Less time on a ventilator
- Smaller scars
Our specialist surgical teams can treat many heart conditions and carry out a range of heart procedures using minimally invasive methods.
These include:
- Heart valve repair or replacement
- Surgery to remove tumours from your heart
- The closure of a hole in your heart, such as atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale
- Atrioventricular septal defect surgery
- Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation
- Coronary artery bypass grafts (Midcab)
However, minimally invasive heart surgery isn't right for everyone. Your suitability depends on your own health history, your surgical history and your specific condition.
Your cardiac consultant will give you a detailed diagnosis and let you know what the best way forward is for your condition. With HCA UK, your care is highly personalised, and your safety always comes first.
250+
Cardiology consultants for you to choose from
36,000+
Cardiac patients treated every year
48 hours
Fast access to diagnostic test results
Innovative treatments
See a specialist and get dedicated, expert care
State-of-the-art facilities
New techniques and technology
Rapid access
Get tests, scans and results fast
YOUR MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIAC SURGERY WITH HCA UK
What to expect
From the moment you step through the door until you’re ready to leave, we want you to feel as comfortable and reassured as possible. One of the ways we can put you at ease is to let you know what to expect at every stage.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you’ve self-referred to us or have a referral from your GP, the first step is always an initial consultation with one of our specialists. Where possible, we’ll offer you an appointment within 24 hours.
Your cardiologist will ask you about the symptoms you’re experiencing. They’ll give you a thorough physical examination, look at your medical history and arrange the investigative diagnostic tests they think you need.
Your cardiologist will ask you about the symptoms you’re experiencing. They’ll give you a thorough physical examination, look at your medical history and arrange the investigative diagnostic tests they think you need.
02
Tests and diagnosis
HCA UK gives you fast access to the UK's most comprehensive cardiac diagnostics network, offering tests on the day of your appointment and results within two working days.
03
Follow up with options for minimally invasive surgery
Your consultant will share your test results within 48 hours, discuss what they mean and recommend next best steps. That may include minimally invasive cardiac surgery, depending on your diagnosis, health and surgical history.
Your consultant will create a treatment plan that you feel completely comfortable with. It will always be a tailored approach, based on what’s right for you.
Your consultant will create a treatment plan that you feel completely comfortable with. It will always be a tailored approach, based on what’s right for you.
04
Treatment
We’ll make sure you have everything you need before your surgery, and you’ll be able to ask questions at every stage of the process. You’ll have the support of your entire medical team throughout what can be an anxious time, and we’ll make sure you’re informed and made to feel as comfortable as possible.
05
Aftercare and monitoring
Following your surgery, we’ll monitor you to make sure you're fit to go home. We’ll also give you all the information you need to ensure a smooth recovery once you’re home.
You may feel ready to get back to your usual routine, including work, about a week after your procedure. Unless your job involves heavy lifting or other elements of physical labour, you should be fine.
It’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week. Your consultant will advise when it's safe to return to normal physical activity.
You may feel ready to get back to your usual routine, including work, about a week after your procedure. Unless your job involves heavy lifting or other elements of physical labour, you should be fine.
It’s best to avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week. Your consultant will advise when it's safe to return to normal physical activity.
Where can I have minimally invasive cardiac surgery?
We have specialists who can help across our extensive network of hospitals and treatment centres. You’ll be able to have your procedure at the following locations:
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Wellington Hospital
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.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery FAQ
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is generally lower risk than open heart surgery, but all cardiac procedures carry some risks. These include:
- Internal or external bleeding
- Infection either internally, or at the incision sites
- Developing an irregular heart rhythm (arrythmia )
- Needing a permanent pacemaker
- Stroke, similar to the risk with open-heart surgery
- Heart attack
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
After your surgery, we’ll monitor you to make sure you're fit to go home.
You'll receive detailed at-home care instructions, and you should feel ready to resume your routine in five to seven days after the procedure. However, you should avoid strenuous activity for at least a week.
You'll receive detailed at-home care instructions, and you should feel ready to resume your routine in five to seven days after the procedure. However, you should avoid strenuous activity for at least a week.
In a small number of cases, the best treatment is robotically assisted surgery. If you’re a good candidate for this procedure, your specialist consultant will use the state-of-the-art da Vinci robotic surgical console to help them carry out your minimally invasive surgery.
Your surgeon will always be in control – the robot can’t move independently. They’ll carry out your surgery using tiny instruments held by robotic arms, and move them with the help of a high-definition camera displayed on a large console.
Robotically assisted surgery is considered better than traditional open surgery because it’s minimally invasive, so your surgeon only needs to make small incisions. That means that there’s less pain, reduced blood loss, a lower infection risk, shorter hospital stays and you’ll make a faster recovery.
It will give your surgeon enhanced dexterity and the support of 3D visualisation too, as well as tremor filtration to keep things very steady as they work. It all means that your consultant can be more precise and deliver better outcomes in small cardiothoracic spaces.
Your surgeon will always be in control – the robot can’t move independently. They’ll carry out your surgery using tiny instruments held by robotic arms, and move them with the help of a high-definition camera displayed on a large console.
Robotically assisted surgery is considered better than traditional open surgery because it’s minimally invasive, so your surgeon only needs to make small incisions. That means that there’s less pain, reduced blood loss, a lower infection risk, shorter hospital stays and you’ll make a faster recovery.
It will give your surgeon enhanced dexterity and the support of 3D visualisation too, as well as tremor filtration to keep things very steady as they work. It all means that your consultant can be more precise and deliver better outcomes in small cardiothoracic spaces.
Our patients’ cardiac stories
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.
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
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.
“It was the best decision we ever made. Almost as soon as the anaesthetic from the surgery wore off, she was back to her usual happy self.”
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*Based on national private cardiac volumes. The Private Healthcare Information Network.
**Based on availability across all HCA UK facilities.
**Based on our patient satisfaction survey at HCA UK hospitals.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.