Liv Hospital’s Cardiovascular Surgery Department offers international patients world-class solutions to cardiac and vascular diseases and conditions, provided by our team of highly skilled specialists trained in the latest technologies and techniques. The experienced team of specialists in our Adult Cardiac Surgery Department set an example for others in terms of excellence in bypass surgery, heart valve surgery and aortic surgery. The clinic's success rate is supported by an experienced team of cardiac anaesthesiologists as well as an Intensive Care Unit equipped with the most advanced equipment known to modern medical science. Our foreign patients have the opportunity to recover with all the comforts of home in specially equipped luxurious private rooms, offering every medical or concierge service, at the touch of a button.
The Heart Team at Liv Hospital
The concept of the dynamic "Heart Team", consisting of cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons as the basis for effective diagnosis and treatment, has spread rapidly throughout the most advanced healthcare centres around the world and is in increasing demand by patients seeking the most effective treatment for heart diseases. Liv Hospital’s Heart Team was formed to provide international patients with a world-class interdisciplinary service to maximize the success and convenience of their treatment.
Liv Hospital’s heart team periodically conducts a detailed evaluation of each patient's medical records to ensure that their treatment is according to the most appropriate protocol
Liv Hospital’s Heart Team facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of its international patients by bringing together all of Liv Hospital’s available human and technological resources from across the spectrum of medical specialties, but concentrating on a core team of cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. Hybrid Surgery - the simultaneous performance of different types of surgery - is performed in our specially equipped and designed Hybrid Operating Room, and in appropriate cases, angiographic vascular studies are performed after bypass surgery without the patient leaving the operating room. Four-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of the heart valves can be performed, immediately after heart valve surgery, allowing the patient to leave the operating room without delay. By also offering more traditional methods and techniques when needed, Liv Hospital is at the forefront of international innovation in cardiovascular surgery.
The cardiac team at Liv Hospital is also experienced in the field of aortic valve replacement and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).
Bypass surgery
The coronary arteries are the vessels that supply the heart muscle. A narrowing or blockage of these vessels, which have a diameter of 1-2 mm, can obstruct the blood supply to the heart muscle, leading to impaired heart function, chest pain known as angina pectoris and most importantly to myocardial infarction and sudden death. The recommended treatments for cases of arterial narrowing and blockage that require intervention are balloon/stent placement and bypass surgery. Treatment should be performed as soon as possible after the patient has been diagnosed to prevent further damage to the heart muscle.
Coronary artery bypass surgery is a surgical procedure that is performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease. Arteries or veins from another part of the patient's body, mostly from the legs and chest area, are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic stenosis and improve the blood supply in the coronary circulation, which supplies the myocardium (heart muscle). The use of thoracic arteries is important for the long-term success of the operation. Surgeries that have used thoracic arteries have shown a 92% survival rate at the 10-year measurement, while the figure for leg veins is 50-60%.
Contrary to the traditional approach in which only veins and arteries from the left side are used, the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Liv Hospital has a team that is well-trained and prepared to perform simultaneous use of thoracic arteries from both the left and right side. In addition, our team is experienced in performing successful Beating Heart bypass surgeries.
In most cases, patients are admitted to the hospital one day prior to surgery for preparation. International patients may be admitted some time before, but in all cases, they will receive assistance from their dedicated Recovery Specialists. After a day or two under observation in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, patients are usually discharged 5-7 days later.
Heart valve surgery
Heart valves ensure proper unidirectional blood flow between the heart chambers and the organs of the body. Congenital or acquired stenosis of the heart valves (obstructing the flow of blood to the organs they supply) or valvular insufficiency (in which the proper one-way flow is disrupted and blood is returned in the opposite direction) can occur. Dysfunctional valves require intervention before they disrupt cardiac activity or as soon as possible after such an effect is noticed. Otherwise, valve failure can cause irreversible damage to cardiac function.
Valve repair is the preferred method of treating valve failure without replacing the valve. But in cases where this is not possible, the diseased valve is surgically replaced with a valve prosthesis. The most commonly affected valves in adults are the aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves. There are two types of valve prostheses: mechanical (metal) and biological (made from animal tissue). Which type of prosthesis to use is decided in consultation with the patient and on the basis of the patient's condition and characteristics. The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) method is an important modern development that is preferred for high-risk aortic valve operations, especially in older patients, as it allows replacement without opening the chest. The cardiac team at Liv Hospital has gained considerable experience in performing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).
Aortic surgery
The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the organs. Diseases of the aorta can be life-threatening and require intervention as soon as possible after being diagnosed. Any delay could have unintended consequences, including the loss of the patient.
Aortic aneurysm surgery and aortic dissection: these are operations that can only be performed in modern surgical centres. The aortic surgery department at Liv Hospital has extensive experience in all aspects of the field.
- Cardiac surgery for adults
- Paediatric cardiac surgery