Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

Heart care covers blocked arteries, faulty valves, rhythm problems and heart defects present from birth. Some treatments are done through a thin tube passed into a blood vessel, such as angioplasty or fitting a pacemaker. Others need open surgery, such as bypass or valve replacement.

To start, send your most recent echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart), ECG, angiogram report and the angiogram video if you have it, with a list of your current medicines. A cardiologist reviews these and gives an opinion on the treatment suggested at home and how soon it is needed.

Partner hospitals in the country you prefer, or in several countries, then quote on the same reports. Check what each quote includes, for example the type of stent or valve, the days in intensive care and the checks before you fly. Heart patients often need time before a long flight, so distance from home is worth weighing next to price.