CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Heart stent surgery
- No.1 in the UK for private cardiac care
- The UK's leading provider of private stent surgery
- Rapid access to coronary angioplasty surgery and care across our hospital network
- Appointments in as little as 24 hours
- 99% of our cardiac patients would recommend us to friends and family
Private heart stent surgery at HCA UK
Why choose us?
As the UK’s No.1 for private cardiac care, we look after more patients than any other UK private healthcare provider. That means we have the experience and the expertise to deliver exceptional care for our patients, whether you need a common stent procedure, also known as a coronary angioplasty, or complex cardiac care.
Our experts will be here to ensure the best outcomes at every stage, from your pre-surgery assessment and minimally invasive heart stent surgery procedure to post-operative recovery. That includes helping you understand what to expect after stent surgery.
Within our first-class facilities for stent surgery, you can be confident you'll be in the safest of hands. That’s why, of the 36,000 people we help every year, 99% say they’d recommend us to family and friends.
A stent is a small, expandable metal mesh tube that can be inserted into narrowed arteries to restore blood flow. This is usually done to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) caused by the build-up of fatty plaque.
When a stent is inserted during a coronary angioplasty , this is known as a percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI . It can be used in an emergency, if someone is having a heart attack, or as a preventative measure.
If you think you might need a heart stent procedure, our leading multidisciplinary team (MDT) can offer you the personalised care you need within our expert private network. We’re the UK’s leading private provider of PCI care, trusted by more patients than any other hospital group.
When a stent is inserted during a coronary angioplasty , this is known as a percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI . It can be used in an emergency, if someone is having a heart attack, or as a preventative measure.
If you think you might need a heart stent procedure, our leading multidisciplinary team (MDT) can offer you the personalised care you need within our expert private network. We’re the UK’s leading private provider of PCI care, trusted by more patients than any other hospital group.
If you have plaque build-up inside your artery, this can restrict blood flow to the heart. This condition is called coronary heart disease (CHD) which can cause chest pain. it can also cause a blood clot or a heart attack.
Most people find out they have heart disease when they have a heart attack. If you have angina or are having a heart attack, you might need to have a stent fitted. Some of the symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Weakness, light-headedness or nausea
- Cold sweats
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the arms or shoulder
It's important to know that not all cases of coronary artery disease can be fixed with private stent surgery. Your cardiologist will let you know whether a cardiac stenting procedure is right for you.
In some instances, it's possible to treat and control symptoms of coronary artery disease with medications. Your consultant will discuss the options with you.
200+
specialist consultants to choose from
500+
Stent (PCI) procedures performed every year
99%
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 heart stent surgery at 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 each 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.
One of the ways we can put you at ease is to let you know what to expect at each 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.
01
Initial consultation
Whether you’ve self-referred or have a referral from a GP, the first step will be an initial consultation and pre-surgery assessment to find out more about your health, medical history, symptoms and lifestyle.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
During your initial appointment, your consultant will also carry out diagnostic tests to gain a better picture of your overall heart health and any heart conditions. This might include:
- ECG (electrocardiogram)
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac CT scan
- Stress echocardiogram
- Chest x-ray
- Blood tests
Once they’ve confirmed a diagnosis, our specialists will put together the most effective treatment plan for you. This might include stent surgery.
03
Stent procedure
Coronary stent surgery normally lasts between 30 minutes and two hours, but it can occasionally take longer. It's a minimally invasive procedure takes place in a specialised ‘cath lab’ and you can have painkillers or sedatives if you need them.
Your consultant will carefully insert a small tube into your artery and pass the stent into the area of the blockage. Before your procedure, you'll be given further information including:
- When to stop eating and drinking
- Which medications to take or avoid
- When to arrive at the hospital and where to go
- How long you'll need to stay in hospital
- What to expect after the procedure
- Lifestyle advice and information about living with a stent
04
Post-operative recovery and follow-up
After your heart stent surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room for observation. You'll need to arrange for someone to take you home after your procedure. This is usually the same day or after a few days if you need further monitoring. You'll be provided with pain relief medication if you need it and be told what to expect after stent surgery to help you rest, recuperate and make a full recovery.
05
Ongoing monitoring
Once you're home, you'll need to monitor your pain levels and keep an eye on the insertion site to check for unusual pain, swelling or discolouration beyond a small bruise. Our coronary angioplasty team is here to support you through your heart stent surgery and recovery, so you’ll be in safe hands at every stage.
Where can I have heart stent surgery?
Across our extensive network of hospitals and treatment centres, we have more than 200 expert cardiovascular consultants who can help you, from initial consultation through to surgery and recovery. You’ll be able to have your stent procedure at the following locations:
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE 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.
Cardiac stent surgery FAQs
During your stent procedure:
- Your consultant will ask you to lie on an X-ray table and you will be linked up to a heart rate monitor and given a local anaesthetic. You'll have an intravenous line in case you need painkillers or sedatives during your medical stent procedure.
- Once you're comfortable, your cardiologists will start the coronary stent procedure. They'll make a small puncture in your groin, wrist or arm to insert a small tube into your artery.
- A catheter is passed through the tube and guided along the artery before a thin wire is passed to the narrowed area.
- Once the thin wire is in place, a tiny oblong balloon is passed over the wire and inflated to squash fatty deposits on the inner walls of the artery. This widens the artery and can be repeated multiple times. You might feel discomfort as the balloon is inflated. This is normal.
- Your stent will be fitted onto the balloon and will open as the balloon inflates. When the balloon is deflated and removed, the stent is left inside your artery.
- Once your stent is fitted, your consultant will make sure your artery is wide enough for blood to flow. This is done by monitoring contrast dye as it flows through the artery.
We offer complex PCIs, too. These are usually used to treat multiple arteries or severely blocked arteries so take a little bit longer than the standard procedure. To do this, we might use additional surgical and imaging methods including endovascular ultrasounds or rotablades to make sure your arteries are working efficiently.
If you have coronary heart disease, having a stent inserted can help to improve blood flow and reduce your risk of major heart conditions such as heart attack. This type of procedure can produce immediate relief from symptoms. It can also be used as an emergency treatment if you’re having a heart attack.
Heart stent operations are a common cardiac treatment. As your consultant doesn't need to make large incisions to fit a stent, it's deemed a safe cardiac procedure for most people. This surgery is regarded as minimally invasive, so you'll normally be awake during your coronary angioplasty.
Stent surgery is generally a safe procedure. Some potential complications include:
- Bleeding or bruising around the area where the catheter is inserted
- Blood clots within the stents
- Infection around the incision
Before you decide to go ahead with stent surgery, your consultant will discuss the potential risks and benefits with you so you can make an informed decision. We conduct over 500 of these procedures every year as the UK’s top private cardiac care provider, so you’re in safe hands with us.
Before your procedure, you’ll be given further information about how to prepare for the procedure, including:
- When to stop eating and drinking
- Which medications to take or avoid
- When to arrive at the hospital and where to go
- How long you'll need to stay in hospital
- What to expect after the procedure
- Lifestyle advice and information about living with a stent
You'll also need to arrange for someone to take you home after your procedure. This is usually the same day or after a few days if you need further monitoring.
The different types of stent include:
- Drug-eluting stents (DES): This type of mesh heart stent is coated in slow-release medication to reduce the risk of a blood clot forming. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends using these stents if the affected section of the artery is less than 3mm wide or longer than 15mm. This is due to the risk of re-narrowing being higher in these cases.
- Drug-eluting balloons (DEB): This is a stent that can be used to open and keep open a coronary artery that's been narrowed by arteriosclerosis. This condition occurs when arteries become narrowed and hardened.
Your consultant will let you know which type of stent is best for you as part of your initial consultation.
Recovery times and aftercare for coronary angioplasty will vary. You should be able to return to desk work within about a week, but it’s important to increase your activity levels gradually and set realistic expectations about your over-all stent recovery timeline.
Yes, unfortunately sometimes a coronary stent can fail. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, these are common warning signs of stent failure. If you have stent blockage symptoms, you should contact a cardiac specialist without delay or go to your nearest A&E for urgent support.
It’s important to take some precautions to help prevent blood clots after stent placement. Your specialist will advise you about any medications such as aspirin or lifestyle changes that may help prevent stent blockage for you. Stopping smoking, reducing your salt and fat intake, managing your stress levels and regular, low-intensity exercise can all help to boost heart health and stop a stent from getting blocked.
Our patients' stories
How a second opinion helped uncover a hidden cardiac problem
Former Olympic swimmer, Adrian, was used to prioritising his physical wellbeing and continued to exercise regularly, keeping him in good health into his 60s. But when he got out of the pool one day, he noticed that something wasn’t right.
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.
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.
“Most of the angioplasty that we do is done on a day-case basis. Patients often experience a dramatic symptomatic relief – and most do very well in the long run”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.