Heart surgery in Glasgow

At Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow, we are proud to be the only private hospital in Scotland to offer heart surgery. We provide a dedicated private cardiac service for patients who have been diagnosed with a heart condition and require a surgical procedure undertaken by a cardiothoracic surgeon.

We offer comprehensive private heart surgery for structural heart disease and disease of the coronary arteries.

Highly trained cardiothoracic surgeons with extensive cardiac surgery experience work alongside an experienced team of cardiologists, anaesthetists, specialist nurses, resident medical officers and physiotherapists to deliver exceptional, safe, high-quality care. We are also the only private hospital in Scotland with a five-bed, level 3 intensive care unit (ICU), which allows for this specialist surgery to take place at Ross Hall Hospital.

Patients benefit from accurate diagnosis and leading treatment for a wide range of cardiac conditions with cutting-edge technology, modern facilities and the highest standard of comfort and cleanliness available. We also offer leading post-operative care to ensure your recovery is as fast and effective as possible.

Our primary focus is always on patient care, comfort and support, and the specialists will aim to get you back to health as soon as possible.

Private Heart Surgery at Ross Hall Hospital is offered to patients needing:

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also known as coronary artery surgery
• Aortic valve replacement (AVR)
• Mitral valve repair or replacement (MVR)
• Tricuspid valve repair or replacement (TVR)
• Aortic root replacement or replacement of the ascending aorta
• Excision of left atrial myxoma

Cardiac surgery is the area of medicine that operates on the heart.

Cardiac surgeons work in unison with cardiologists, anaesthetists, and other professionals such as perfusionists (operators of the heart-lung machine used in theatres), theatre nurses, operating department personnel, and intensive care staff. 

The majority of modern cardiac surgeries at Ross Hall Hospital are performed using minimally invasive techniques where possible.

We offer a range of less invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) operations with Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting (EVH) using CoreVista from CardioPrecision and HemoPro2 from Getinge.

We also offer On-Pump and Off-Pump CABG Surgery, minimally invasive Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR), and minimally invasive excision of Left Atrial Myxoma, as well as other solutions tailored to the individual patient.

Your consultant will be able to explain all of these technical terms so you fully understand any procedure you might need. Your surgeon will give you all the time you need to be fully informed and reassured about an upcoming procedure. We know that heart surgery can be scary, which is why the experienced cardiac surgeons will be with you every step of the way.

Cardiac surgery is a very complex speciality, and the experienced heart surgeons are able to offer a variety of advanced surgical treatments depending on your condition.

Private heart surgery at Ross Hall Hospital is offered to patients needing:

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also known as coronary artery surgery with endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH) - Ross Hall Hospital was the first hospital in Scotland to start using CoreVista from CardioPrecision and HemoPro2 from Getinge for coronary artery bypass surgery for endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH). Traditionally, surgeons harvest a vein through an incision that extends from the groin to the ankle. It’s one of the longest incisions in surgery. EVH allows the vein to be removed through a tiny incision just below the knee, which means faster recovery and less pain. A similar technique is used to harvest a radial artery from the arm.
  
  
• Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement - We are the only private hospital in Scotland offering minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery. Traditionally, the diseased aortic valve is replaced through an operation that entails splitting the breastbone from top to bottom with a saw. This is called a full median sternotomy. Using less invasive techniques, the same operation can be performed through a 6cm skin incision centred on the upper chest, dividing just the top part of the breast bone. The cosmetic result is far superior, and patients experience less pain and less blood loss which makes for a much faster recovery. Only a handful of surgeons in Scotland are able to offer this technique.
  
  
• Minimally invasive excision of left atrial myxoma - Ross Hall Hospital is the only private hospital in Scotland to offer less invasive excision of left atrial myxoma. These tumours of the heart are typically removed through a full sternotomy incision. However, using a technique pioneered by one of the consultant heart surgeons practising at Ross Hall Hospital, it is possible to remove the tumour by opening just the top of the breast bone, similar to that used for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement above. Mr Fraser Sutherland is the only Heart Surgeon in Scotland offering this unique technique.

Diagnosis, consultations and treatment will always be tailored to you and conducted by the best assortment of cardiothoracic surgeons from the experienced multidisciplinary team at Ross Hall Hospital.

Usually, patients will be referred by a cardiologist for an initial consultation with a heart surgeon. Patients that have already been advised that they need heart surgery also have the option to directly contact the cardiac surgeon.

During the initial consultation, your consultant will learn about and assess your symptoms and medical history to get a clear picture of the situation, your concerns and to determine the appropriate next steps.

The heart surgeon may request that additional scans and tests be carried out to ensure we have all the necessary information to be able to suggest a surgical option accurately.

Once the results have been received and you agree on a surgical treatment option with your consultant, you will be able to agree upon a date for your surgery, offered at a time and day that suits you.

You will be admitted the night before surgery and be visited by your anaesthetist and consultant. Your consultant will be with you every step of the way, from start to finish checking on you every day that you are in hospital and will be regularly available for contact and questions if you have them. A specialist cardiac registrar is on-site 24/7 and will be available for assistance during your time at Ross Hall Hospital.

The majority of patients will undergo surgery using one of the minimally invasive techniques outlined above. The procedure will be carried out by a highly trained cardiac surgical theatre team with extensive cardiac surgery experience.

Once your surgery is complete and the recovery process has been initiated, you will be cared for by professional and experienced HDU and ITU staff for post-operative care. This close-knit team is there to offer you reassurance and care throughout your recovery.

During your time with us, you will also benefit from the expert physiotherapists at Ross Hall Hospital, who will see you every day to aid your recovery.

Usually, you will go home around five days after the surgery and continue to receive support during the 6-8 week period of initial recovery. During this time, if you have questions or concerns, you will be able to contact your consultant with any questions or queries. Full recovery from cardiac surgery takes around three months.

Our expert cardiothoracic surgeons and the wider hospital team will do everything in their power to make sure your time at Ross Hall Hospital is as comfortable as possible, ensuring you receive a timely diagnosis and comprehensive, bespoke cardiac treatment.

When undergoing a significant cardiac operation, you’ll want to know you are in the very best hands to carry out such procedures and see you through to a fast and complete recovery.

We offer a range of advanced cardiac surgical treatment options that are often only able to be performed by a handful of surgeons, many of which treat at Ross Hall Hospital. We utilise industry-leading technology to provide minimally-invasive operations, ensuring our patients recover far quicker than traditional methods.

Our primary focus is always on patient care, comfort and support, and the specialists will aim to get you back to normal as soon as possible.

We are very proud of the attributes that set our cardiac surgery unit apart:

• Choose your surgeon and stay with the same doctor throughout your journey. One consultant takes control of your care and seamlessly looks after you from initial consultation to your full recovery.
  
  
• Agree on a date for surgery with your surgeon, offered on a day that suits you, allowing you to make plans around that specific date.
  
  
• Fixed-price packages. Private heart surgery is not as expensive as you might think. We offer an affordable fixed price package for most procedures and accept insurance from most major healthcare insurers.