EN
The main treatment for severe aortic stenosis is cardiac valve replacement surgery. The 3-year survival rate of patients after surgery is over 87%. Without surgery, only 21% of patients overcome this threshold.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI/TAVR) is an innovative method of treating aortic stenosis. It is a worthy alternative to open heart surgery. The procedure is shown to patients who have a high risk of complications after a classical intervention. The experts of the international medical platform MedicGlobus are responsible for how the heart valve is changed abroad using the TAVI method and how much it costs.
What is TAVI heart valve replacement?
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement – a new approach to aortic valve replacement. The operation is carried out in a minimally invasive way. The artificial valve is implanted through a catheter inserted in the femoral artery or a small incision in the chest.
Transcatheter aortic valves are specially designed for this procedure. They are made from the heart tissue of a cow or a pig. The natural tissue is reconstructed and attached to a flexible expanding mesh frame. To implant the valve into the heart, it is pressed around or inside the catheter. The implant is then inserted and guided to the aortic valve opening in the heart.
Using modern visualization, the valve is checked for proper placement. It is implanted on top of the existing valve. The valve expands and is fixed inside the aorta. It starts to function immediately and restores blood flow.
After the operation, the patient is transferred to the intensive care unit for several hours. The rehabilitation period of the patient lasts no longer than 3 days.
Since only biological valves are installed during the TAVI intervention, antithrombotic drug therapy lasts for 3 months. Full recovery of the patient comes in 2-3 weeks. After the open surgery, this period is extended by several months.
How much does it cost to have heart surgery to replace a valve abroad?
The cost of cardiac valve prosthetics abroad depends on the level of the medical centre and the pricing policy of the country. The final price is influenced by the qualification of the doctor, the way the valve is installed and the period of hospitalization. The cheapest treatment is in Turkey, Poland and Lithuania. Medical services in clinics of Germany, Israel, and Spain will cost 20-40% more expensive.
Turkey
Foreign patients choose Turkish medical centres for TAVI implantation. Leaders in this direction are:
Koç University Hospital (Istanbul);
Liv Medical Network (Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara);
Memorial Medical Centre (Istanbul, Antalya);
Medical Park Network (Bursa, Istanbul).
The success rate of cardiac surgeries at Liv Hospital exceeds 96%. Top cardiac surgeons of the country are practising here: Professor Erdogan Ilkai and Professor Süleyman Kılıç. They have thousands of successful surgeries on their account, including TAVI/TAVR.
The Memorial Clinic Network shows good results in cardiac surgery. More than 22% of all cardiac surgeries are performed with a valve prosthesis. The mortality rate after such interventions in Memorial Group hospitals is less than 5%. The risks of postoperative infections are lower than the global average.
Leading cardiovascular surgeon of Antalya, Professor Hüseyin Okutan, works at the Antalya Memorial. He operates on adults and children. The doctor’s interests include robotic surgery, cardiac valve repair and replacement.
The treatment of cardiological diseases at Koç Hospital meets the standards of the National Council of Cardiovascular Surgery. The hospital has a “Living Heart“ cardiovascular program. It brings together the best cardiologists, cardio- and vascular surgeons in Turkey to fight against cardiovascular pathologies.
Professor Mustafa Kemal Erol works in Medikal Park. He specializes in the treatment of aortic insufficiency. The doctor performs TAVI operations.
Approximate cost of heart valve replacement in Turkish clinics is $19,000.
Germany
Heart valve replacement for foreign patients is performed at the German Heart Center Munich, the Leipzig Heart Center and the Cardiology Center Berlin. Famous German cardiac surgeons practice here. Among them:
| Professor Volkmar Falk | Director of the Berlin Heart Center. The FOCUS magazine he has named him the best cardiovascular surgeon in the country three times. |
| Professor Lange Rüdiger | Specializes in heart valve implantation. The professor was the first in Germany to operate a mitral heart valve with the Da Vinci robot. |
| Professor Burkert Pieske | The doctor works at the Cardiology department at the German Heart Center in Berlin. He treats heart valve defects and arrhythmias. He has more than 30 years of experience as a professor. |
| Professor Martin Kostelka | Performs all kinds of heart surgeries on children. According to the rating of FOCUS magazine, the doctor is among the best cardiologists in Germany. |
According to MedicGlobus, more than 90% of patient reviews for heart valve replacement in Germany are positive. The initial cost of the operation is €27,000.
Lithuania
В Kardiolita Hospital (Vilnius) provides all kinds of cardiac surgical interventions. This multi-profile clinic is the leading one in the Baltics. The main principles of the clinic are interdisciplinary and personalized approach.
Surgeons at Kardiolita have many years of experience in performing cardiovascular operations. When aortic valves are damaged, they perform prosthetics and replacements.
Professor Aidietis Audrius and Professor Giedrius Uždavinys are doctors with more than one decade of experience. Giedrius Uždavinys has been treating cardiopathology for over 50 years. He specializes in transplantation surgery, valve replacement, aortic coronary stenting, etc.
Professor Aidietis Audrius has been practising for over 40 years. He has been awarded the title of “Distinguished Doctor of the Country“. Aidietis Audrius performs TAVI prosthetics and plastics.
Approximate price for heart valve replacement in Lithuania is €17,000.
Poland
Positive feedback after cardiac valve replacement surgeries in Polish clinics indicates the high quality of services provided. Every year, more than 6,000 patients from different parts of the world choose the American Heart of Poland (AHP). The success rate of a valve replacement in this medical centre is 98.8%.
The hospital has a hybrid operating theatres. Two medical teams are working here at the same time. This allows several operations to be performed at once.
Doctors in American Heart of Poland use a unique device – ““X-ray arm””. This device is used to perform complex interventions to replace the heart’s aortic valve. Such equipment minimizes the risks of complications and improves the accuracy of the surgeon’s actions.
The cost of TAVR in Poland €15,000.
Spain
Quironsalud clinics are in the priority for cardiac patients. Doctors there perform complex surgical treatment of all diseases of the heart and large vessels. TAVI procedure is performed through a puncture of the femoral artery. During the operation, the patient’s heart is not stopped. The valve is implanted under the control of the X-ray system.
Dr Alberto Forteza practices at the University Clinic Quiron Madrid. He has performed over 6,000 cardiac surgeries, of which over 700 are heart valve recovery surgeries. The doctor’s speciality:
coronary surgery;
replacement and reconstruction of heart valves;
heart transplantation;
surgery of aortic pathologies;
cardiomyopathy treatment.
The price of the TAVI/TAVR procedure in Spanish hospitals is €23,000.
Israel
Cardiac Surgery is one of the key areas of medicine in Israel. Cardiac valve replacement by TAVI method is performed in all leading clinics of the country. Foreign patients prefer the Chaim Sheba Clinic and Souraski Medical Centre (Ichilov).
Ichilov performs about 95% of successful implantations of the TAVI/TAVR aortic valve. This method is considered the safest one. It does not involve large cuts or cardiac arrest.
Professor Gadi Keren, the head of cardiac surgery at the Souraski clinic, specializes in such surgeries. His experience exceeds 35 years.
At the Sheba Clinic , the transcatheter valve replacement is performed by Professor Keren Andre. He is Director of the Center for Research and Treatment of Cardiovascular Pathologies. He has been practising for over 30 years.
The estimated cost of a TAVI heart valve implantation in Israeli hospitals is $30,000.
Resume
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI/TAVR) is a new approach to aortic valve replacement. The operation is performed using minima; y invasive methods without stopping the heart.
Foreign citizens choose clinics in Turkey, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Germany and Israel for TAVI aortic valve implantation.
The cost of a heart valve replacement abroad depends on the level of the medical centre and the pricing policy of the country. Treatment in Turkey, Poland, and Lithuania is the cheapest.
To perform a TAVI/TAVR, contact the coordinating physicians of the MedicGlobus international medical platform. Our specialists will help you choose your clinic and doctor. We will arrange a treatment trip in the shortest time possible.
