Cardiology and Heart Surgery Abroad

The free planning call connects you with the hospital's cardiac team to discuss the recommended procedure, expected length of stay, cost, and travel logistics. It is not a formal medical consultation. A paid second opinion connects you with a licensed cardiologist who reviews your ECG, echocardiogram, angiogram, and history, and gives you a structured written medical view on whether the recommended procedure is the right one, what the alternatives are, and what to realistically expect. For anyone facing major heart surgery, we strongly encourage the second opinion path first.

Cardiac procedures always carry risk, regardless of where they take place. Safety in our network is protected by three layers: every hospital, cardiologist, and cardiac surgeon is reviewed and verified by our medical advisory board before joining; partner hospitals meet international ICU, catheterisation lab, and cardiac surgery standards; and the planning call gives you direct contact with the treating specialist before you decide. The real risks of cardiac tourism come from booking through unverified channels, low-volume centres presented as "specialists", and packages that hide who is actually operating on you.

Get a second opinion first. A cardiac procedure is a serious step and should never be rushed. Our paid second-opinion service exists exactly for this. A licensed cardiologist reviews your imaging and case, and gives you a structured written opinion on whether the recommended procedure is warranted, whether alternatives should be considered (medication changes, less invasive options, watchful waiting), and what the honest risks and benefits are for you.

For elective planned procedures (bypass, valve replacement or repair, ablation, pacemaker), you should be medically stable and cleared by your local cardiologist to fly. During the planning call, the treating team will review your current condition and tell you honestly whether travel is appropriate, or whether you should be treated at home first. Unstable patients, active heart failure decompensation, or acute events are not suitable for medical travel and should be treated locally.

It varies a lot with the procedure. Angioplasty with a stent, a pacemaker implantation, a catheter ablation, or a diagnostic workup usually needs three to five days on site. Open-heart surgery (bypass, valve replacement or repair) usually ten to fourteen days before you're cleared to fly. The exact plan is confirmed in your planning call, based on your case and the hospital's protocols.

Strongly recommended for open-heart procedures (bypass, valve surgery), where post-operative recovery benefits from a family member's presence. For catheter-based procedures and pacemakers, a companion is helpful but not mandatory. The hospital's coordinator will confirm what's expected for your specific procedure during the planning call.

Yes, and we make this easy. Your discharge summary, procedure report, imaging, and medication list are shared with your cardiologist or GP at home in a language they can read. Cardiac rehab, follow-up echoes, and medication management continue with your local team seamlessly. If your home cardiologist wants to speak with the treating team before or after the procedure, we can arrange that too.

The cardiac team reviews your full medication list before you travel and gives you clear instructions on what to continue, what to pause, and when to resume. Anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs), antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel), beta-blockers, and other cardiac medications are all managed carefully around the procedure. Never stop or change medications without the team's guidance.

In most cases, cardiac procedures like these are covered by insurance companies under specific policies for treatment abroad. Under the EU cross-border healthcare directive (Directive 2011/24/EU), planned procedures within the EU may also be partially reimbursed by your home insurance. Türkiye is outside the EU, so the directive does not automatically apply. Always contact your insurance company before you travel to confirm the coverage details.

The hospital keeps you on site under monitoring until the cardiac team is confident you're stable enough to travel. Complications during recovery are managed there, not en route. Serious cardiac procedures have small but real complication rates regardless of country, and partner hospitals are equipped with cardiac ICU, catheterisation labs, and emergency surgical capacity for exactly these situations. If a complication happens after you return home, your local cardiologist has the full records and can act quickly, with support from the treating team via our app.

Yes. Chronic heart failure and cardiomyopathy management is one of the treatment paths our network covers. This usually starts with a full evaluation (ECG, echocardiogram, blood work, sometimes cardiac MRI or coronary angiography), medication optimisation, and, where indicated, device therapy such as an ICD or a CRT-D (cardiac resynchronisation therapy defibrillator). More advanced therapies are handled on a case-by-case basis. The written treatment plan is shared with your home cardiologist so ongoing management continues seamlessly at home.

Payment is made directly to the hospital, usually by card or bank transfer around the time of the procedure. For major cardiac surgery, some partners accept partial payment on arrival with the remainder after the procedure. Your planning call covers payment options and what's included in the quoted price (accommodation, airport transfer, medications, imaging, ICU stay, medications on discharge) in detail, before you commit to anything.

Every cardiac team and care coordinator in our network works with medical interpreters or bilingual staff. Each hospital profile lists the languages they offer. For cardiac care in particular, being able to discuss symptoms, medications, and recovery in your own language is essential, so this is one of the things we specifically verify with partners.