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 direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB)
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care*
- The UK's leading provider of private MIDCAB surgery
- Rapid access to coronary artery disease diagnostics & treatment
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours across our hospital network
- 99% of our patients would recommend our cardiac care to friends and family
Private MIDCAB at HCA UK
Why choose us?
We’re rated No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care*. That means we carry out more private coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures than any other provider, often using a minimally invasive approach. And, with a 99.6% success rate in coronary artery bypass surgery, you can be confident you’re in safe hands.
You’ll receive exceptional care from a team that includes over 250 cardiovascular consultants, working in specialist multidisciplinary teams including doctors, clinical nurses, surgeons and physiotherapists. They’re supported by an incredible network of state-of-the-art facilities, including five cardiac centres and six cardiac theatres.
No wonder 99% of our patients would recommend us to friends and family.
If you need a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) to improve blood flow to your heart, your consultant might recommend a minimally invasive option commonly called MIDCAB. This proven alternative to open-heart surgery requires just a small 3-5cm incision between your ribs, resulting in a faster recovery, less risk of infection and a smaller scar.
With MIDCAB surgery, instead of opening the centre of your chest as with traditional heart bypass surgery, your surgeon will access your heart using just a small incision between your ribs under your left breast. This minimally invasive procedure avoids splitting the breastbone.
During a traditional coronary artery bypass procedure your heart will be gently stopped using medication, and a heart-lung machine will temporarily take over the function of circulating blood and oxygen throughout your body. With a MIDCAB, there’s no need to stop your heart.
A MIDCAB procedure offers several other advantages over traditional bypass surgery:
- Reduced chest wall trauma
- Faster recovery time
- Lower infection risk
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less scarring
- A faster return to normal activities
When we talk about a 'hybrid approach', we’re referring to minimally invasive coronary revascularisation, which combines minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Typically, your consultant will insert one or more stents to widen (revascularise) other narrowed coronary arteries. Either at the same time, or soon after, your cardiac surgeon will perform a MIDCAB procedure to bypass the left anterior descending artery (LAD) through a small incision on the left side of your chest.
This approach aims for a long-lasting bypass of the LAD, performed while the heart is beating. The stenting of other arteries can be done during the same hospital stay or as a staged procedure with short intervals in between. Your consultant will advise what’s best for your particular case.
Typically, your consultant will insert one or more stents to widen (revascularise) other narrowed coronary arteries. Either at the same time, or soon after, your cardiac surgeon will perform a MIDCAB procedure to bypass the left anterior descending artery (LAD) through a small incision on the left side of your chest.
This approach aims for a long-lasting bypass of the LAD, performed while the heart is beating. The stenting of other arteries can be done during the same hospital stay or as a staged procedure with short intervals in between. Your consultant will advise what’s best for your particular case.
MIDCAB reduces invasiveness while still providing the benefits of open-heart surgery. You’re likely to spend a shorter time in intensive care and in hospital overall before being able to return home.
Rest assured, you’ll be closely monitored by your specialist rehabilitation team and consultant after any procedure and be given detailed advice before you’re discharged home.
An expert in our heart health team will assess whether this approach is suitable for you at a face-to-face or virtual consultation. It all depends on your individual condition and general health, and they’ll be best placed to advise you on your next best steps.
250+
cardiology consultants to choose from
36,000+
patients treated every year
99.6%
success rate for heart bypass surgery
Next-day appointments
See a specialist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis within 24 hours
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Visit any one of 15 dedicated diagnostic centres in London, Manchester and Birmingham
Your MIDCAB procedure with HCA UK
What to expect
Our expert teams are here to ensure that you’re as comfortable, informed and reassured as possible at every stage, from your initial enquiries and consultation until you’re able to be discharged home.
If you have any questions about your MIDCAB procedure, we’re happy to help. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you have any questions about your MIDCAB procedure, we’re happy to help. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you’ve self-referred or have a referral from a GP, the first step will be an initial consultation with one of our specialists.
You’ll be seen by a specialist consultant and a cardiac surgery clinical nurse specialist. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and medical history and carry out a physical examination as part of a through pre-surgery assessment.
You’ll be seen by a specialist consultant and a cardiac surgery clinical nurse specialist. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and medical history and carry out a physical examination as part of a through pre-surgery assessment.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
We’ll conduct a range of tests which are designed to establish as much detail as possible about your case and determine the best treatment for you. The tests your team recommends may include blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, cardiac CT scan with calcium score, X-ray, exercise stress test or a cardiac stress test.
Once we have the results back, we’ll create a detailed treatment plan including advice on what you should do ahead of your admission into one of our hospitals. You’ll also be advised on what preparations you should make ahead of time for your eventual discharge.
This will include information about the medications you may need to take, what type of food and drink you can have after the procedure, and what sort of support and care you’re likely to need at home while you recover.
Once we have the results back, we’ll create a detailed treatment plan including advice on what you should do ahead of your admission into one of our hospitals. You’ll also be advised on what preparations you should make ahead of time for your eventual discharge.
This will include information about the medications you may need to take, what type of food and drink you can have after the procedure, and what sort of support and care you’re likely to need at home while you recover.
03
The minimally invasive procedure
A minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) operation typically lasts three to four hours, depending on the complexity of your case. With a 99.6% success rate for heart bypass surgery, with HCA UK you can be sure you’re in safe hands.
Your MIDCAB procedure will be performed by one of our experienced cardiac surgeons in our advanced operating theatres. Instead of opening the entire chest, your surgeon will operate through a small 3-5cm incision between your ribs, under the left breast. They’ll discuss this with you beforehand to make sure you’re completely comfortable with everything that’s happening.
They’ll use specialised mechanical stabilisers to keep a small area of your heart still while they work. Because they’re not stopping your heart beating, there’s no need for a heart-lung machine.
Your specialist cardiac surgeon will then carefully select and remove a healthy blood vessel from your chest wall. They’ll attach this harvested blood vessel to the blocked coronary artery, creating a new and reliable pathway for oxygen-rich blood to reach your heart muscle, bypassing the blocked artery.
04
Post-operative recovery and aftercare
Immediately after surgery, you'll be transferred to a cardiac intensive care unit, where you’ll be closely monitored by our dedicated team before moving to a high-dependency unit or a cardiac ward. You should be out of bed the next day, but you'll need to stay in hospital for around a week.
After you’ve been discharged, you'll need help at home, so should arrange for someone to stay with you for a couple of weeks. You'll also need to arrange for someone to help you get home from the hospital as you won’t be able to drive for one month.
Within the first few days of being home, you’ll be encouraged to do very gentle activities, such as walking short distances or lifting light objects, building up gradually to more strenuous activities in the following weeks.
You’re likely to have made a full recovery after about three months, although your own recovery time will depend on your fitness, age and how severe your initial arterial disease was. Your consultant will follow up with you about six weeks after the operation and your whole heart health team will be at hand to offer advice and support throughout your recovery.
After you’ve been discharged, you'll need help at home, so should arrange for someone to stay with you for a couple of weeks. You'll also need to arrange for someone to help you get home from the hospital as you won’t be able to drive for one month.
Within the first few days of being home, you’ll be encouraged to do very gentle activities, such as walking short distances or lifting light objects, building up gradually to more strenuous activities in the following weeks.
You’re likely to have made a full recovery after about three months, although your own recovery time will depend on your fitness, age and how severe your initial arterial disease was. Your consultant will follow up with you about six weeks after the operation and your whole heart health team will be at hand to offer advice and support throughout your recovery.
Where can I have my MIDCAB surgery?
Across our extensive network of hospitals and treatment centres, specialist cardiac units and patient support services, we have more than 250 expert cardiovascular consultants who can help you with specialist treatment for coronary artery disease.
From initial consultation through to surgery and recovery, we currently offer MIDCAB surgery at:
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
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.
FAQs
Although MIDCAB surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, it’s still a major operation and, as with any surgery, it comes with potential risks and complications. Our expert consultants and cardiologists will be here to offer you guidance and discuss the potential risks with you ahead of your procedure.
Factors that may affect your risk of complications include your age and whether you have any other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or kidney disease. Your consultant and cardiologist will explain these risks to you.
At HCA UK, we’re proud that our success rate for heart bypass operations is 99.6%.
Factors that may affect your risk of complications include your age and whether you have any other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or kidney disease. Your consultant and cardiologist will explain these risks to you.
At HCA UK, we’re proud that our success rate for heart bypass operations is 99.6%.
As you'll be having a general anaesthetic, you'll be asked to stop eating and drinking for six hours beforehand.
Once you've been discharged, you'll need help at home, so you should arrange for someone to stay with you for a couple of weeks following the procedure. You'll also need to arrange for someone to help you get home from the hospital, as you won’t be able to drive for a month.
Once you've been discharged, you'll need help at home, so you should arrange for someone to stay with you for a couple of weeks following the procedure. You'll also need to arrange for someone to help you get home from the hospital, as you won’t be able to drive for a month.
If you have coronary heart disease, having heart bypass surgery can help improve your quality of life. You may be experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations because of coronary heart disease, symptoms that a heart bypass operation can help to alleviate.
All coronary artery bypass surgery, including MIDCAB surgery, addresses blocked arteries caused by coronary artery disease. But to achieve lasting heart health improvement following the procedure, you’ll need to consider making a few lifestyle changes to help control your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Those may include:
- Eating more heart-healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and lean proteins
- Reducing your intake of saturated fats and salt
- Stopping smoking and limiting alcohol
- Gently increasing your exercise levels once you’re fully healed to include moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week
You should only embark on moderate exercise with clinical guidance and once your consultant tells you it’s safe to do so.
Even though MIDCAB is a minimally invasive procedure that offers a significantly faster recovery than traditional open-heart surgery, bypass surgery is always a serious operation.
Your MIDCAB recovery post-surgery timeline will be personal to you. As a rough guide of what to expect, you’re likely to need to stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days. You can usually return to normal activities and light work within 3 to 4 weeks, achieving full recovery in 1 to 3 months.
A course of specialist rehabilitation can help to speed a healthy return to normal activities and is recommended for a smooth coronary artery bypass recovery.
Our patients’ stories
“I usually tried to avoid doctors and hospitals as much as I could, so I was pretty worried. However, Professor Doshi’s bedside manner and the way he explains everything is very reassuring. Any questions I had, he’d answer them. He was straight to the point and very caring.”
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*Based on national private cardiac volumes. Data source: The Private Healthcare Information Network.