Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery is the surgical specialty for the heart, the great vessels in the chest and, in many centres, the lungs and other chest organs. Cardiac surgeons work with cardiologists, anaesthetists, perfusionists who run the heart-lung machine, and intensive care staff.

Most cardiac operations are planned weeks ahead, which makes them feasible for medical travel, but they are major surgery with a real risk to life and a recovery measured in months. Decisions should come from a heart team, and you should be told your individual predicted risk, for example a EuroSCORE II or STS score.

Conditions this service looks after

• Coronary artery disease needing bypass grafting
• Aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve disease
• Aneurysm of the aortic root, ascending aorta and arch
• Atrial fibrillation treated at the time of other heart surgery
• Congenital heart defects in adults
• Cardiac tumours such as atrial myxoma
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with outflow obstruction
• Constrictive pericarditis
• Advanced heart failure needing a ventricular assist device
• Thoracic conditions such as lung nodules and chest wall deformity, where the unit covers them

Tests you may be offered

• Echocardiography, including transoesophageal: Defines valve lesions and heart function.
• Coronary angiography: Before almost all adult heart operations.
• CT of the aorta and chest: Aortic dimensions, calcification and planning for minimally invasive access.
• Lung function tests and carotid ultrasound: Assess anaesthetic and stroke risk.
• Blood tests and dental check: Kidney, liver, clotting, blood group and infection screening; dental infection is treated before valve surgery.
• Risk scoring: EuroSCORE II or STS score discussed with you.

Treatments available

• Coronary artery bypass grafting: On-pump, off-pump and arterial grafting.
• Valve repair and replacement: Through sternotomy or minimally invasive and robotic approaches.
• Aortic surgery: Root replacement with or without sparing the valve, ascending and arch replacement.
• Surgical ablation and left atrial appendage closure: Maze-type procedures for atrial fibrillation during other surgery.
• Septal myectomy and pericardiectomy: For obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and constriction.
• Adult congenital repairs and tumour removal: ASD closure not suited to a device, and removal of myxomas.
• Mechanical circulatory support: LVAD implantation and ECMO in specialised centres.

When to ask for a specialist opinion

• Your cardiologist has said your valve disease or coronary disease has reached the threshold for intervention
• You have been offered surgery and want a second opinion on the type or timing
• You want to know whether a minimally invasive approach or a repair instead of replacement is possible
• Your aorta has reached or is approaching a size where surgery is advised
• You have been told you are too high risk and want another assessment

Travelling to Türkiye for this care

Plan about 3 weeks: 2 to 3 days of tests, around a week in hospital and 10 to 14 days nearby before flying, accompanied by an adult who can help you. Send angiogram, echo and CT files for remote review first. Emergencies such as aortic dissection or unstable angina must be treated locally. Rehabilitation, anticoagulation monitoring and echo follow-up take place at home, so brief your cardiologist before you leave.

Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

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