Concierge cardiac surgery · UK
Minimally invasive heart surgery, at high-volume UK centres.
Mini-sternotomy, right anterior thoracotomy, mini-mitral, MIDCAB, robotic and TAVI - routed to the SCTS units that do the operation weekly, decided by a proper cardiac MDT.
Why patients choose us
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A high-volume mini-heart team
Mini-mitral and mini-AVR belong at centres that do them every week. We only refer to UK units with the numbers to back it up.
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The full menu on the table
Mini-sternotomy, right anterior thoracotomy, mini-mitral, MIDCAB, robotic, TAVI. The right access for the right heart - not the surgeon’s favourite.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no hospital, so the recommendation is impartial and the concierge costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private minimally invasive heart surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across the UK’s high-volume cardiac units. Send the imaging and we quote firm figures once the MDT has decided the approach.
In short
A mini-mitral repair at a specialist UK unit: £35,000–£60,000, home in 5–7 days.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Hospital stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-sternotomy AVR | £30,000–£45,000 | 3–4 hours | 4–6 days inpatient |
| Right anterior thoracotomy AVR | £35,000–£50,000 | 3–4 hours | 4–6 days inpatient |
| Mini-mitral repair (right thoracotomy) | £35,000–£60,000 | 4–5 hours | 5–7 days inpatient |
| Mini-mitral replacement | £38,000–£62,000 | 4–5 hours | 5–7 days inpatient |
| MIDCAB (single-vessel LIMA–LAD) | £25,000–£45,000 | 3–4 hours | 4–5 days inpatient |
| Robotic-assisted mitral/TECAB | £45,000–£75,000 | 4–6 hours | 5–7 days inpatient |
| Cardiothoracic consultation + MDT | £350–£600 | 45–60 min | Report within 5 days |
Prices vary by centre, by which surgeon does the case, by the prosthesis chosen, and by concomitant procedures (Maze, LAA exclusion, tricuspid work). Also see heart valve surgery, MIDCAB and CABG.
The problem
The right centre, the right access, the right operation.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is only as good as the team doing it. The gap between an occasional unit and a high-volume mini-mitral centre is the gap between a repair and a replacement - we route you to the right one.
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Not sure keyhole is right?
Complex multi-vessel disease and severe biventricular failure often still need a full sternotomy. The MDT calls it honestly.
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Worried about the surgeon?
Mini-mitral repair rates track surgeon volume. We only refer to units doing the operation weekly.
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Want the full menu on the table?
Mini-sternotomy, right anterior thoracotomy, mini-mitral, MIDCAB, robotic, TAVI - the right access for your heart, not the surgeon’s favourite.
The journey
From enquiry to cardiac rehab - what happens, in order.
One concierge from first imaging to the six-week echo - including the ITU stay and the rehab plan.
Phase 1 · Before surgery
Imaging, MDT and work-up
Phase 2 · The operation
Admission, theatre and ITU
Phase 3 · After
Ward, rehab and review
- 01
Before
You send us your echo and CT
A short, confidential form and the imaging you already have. Symptoms, valve or coronary problem, prior heart surgery.
- 02
Before
MDT decision on the right approach
Cardiothoracic surgeon, interventional cardiologist and anaesthetist agree the best access - mini-sternotomy, right anterior thoracotomy, mini-mitral, MIDCAB, TAVI or full sternotomy.
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Before
Pre-op work-up
Coronary CT or angio, TOE, PFT, carotid Doppler and femoral vessel CT for mini-mitral cannulation. Blood thinners reviewed carefully.
- 04
On the day
Admission and anaesthetic
Admission the day before or morning of surgery. General anaesthetic, arterial and central lines, TOE probe placed.
- 05
On the day
The operation
A 5–8 cm incision - partial sternotomy or right thoracotomy - bypass established, valve or graft completed, chest closed.
- 06
After
ITU and ward recovery
One night in ITU/HDU, chest drains out at 24–48 hours, most patients home in 4–6 days - often shorter than a full sternotomy.
- 07
After
Cardiac rehab and review
Cardiac rehab from week two. Driving at 4 weeks. Back to desk work at 4–6 weeks. Surgeon review at 6 weeks with echo.
Typical end-to-end: 3–6 weeks from enquiry to surgery. Full recovery: 6–12 weeks.
When it helps
When minimally invasive cardiac surgery is the right step.
The heart problems we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Severe aortic stenosis
A calcified aortic valve causing breathlessness, angina or syncope - mini-sternotomy or right anterior thoracotomy AVR.
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Degenerative mitral regurgitation
Barlow’s disease or a prolapsing posterior leaflet - mini-mitral repair at a specialist centre, repair rates above 90%.
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Single-vessel LAD disease
A tight proximal LAD lesion where a LIMA graft outperforms a stent - MIDCAB through a small left thoracotomy.
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Atrial septal defect
A secundum ASD picked up in adulthood - closed through a small right thoracotomy or via a catheter device.
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Persistent atrial fibrillation
A concomitant Maze procedure at the time of valve or coronary surgery - restoring rhythm during the same operation.
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Frail or elderly patient
A smaller incision, less blood loss and a shorter ITU stay - often the difference between a good recovery and none at all.
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Prior sternotomy
A right-sided thoracotomy avoids re-entry through scar tissue and old grafts - safer for re-do mitral or tricuspid surgery.
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Red flag: acute chest pain
Crushing chest pain, breathlessness at rest or collapse is an emergency - 999 or A&E, not a clinic booking.
Procedure options
One label, several very different operations.
What each access actually involves - and which heart problem it fits.
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Mini-sternotomy AVR
An upper partial sternotomy - a 6–8 cm incision. The standard minimally invasive route for aortic valve replacement.
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Right anterior thoracotomy AVR
A 5–6 cm cut between the ribs on the right - no bone divided. Becoming the UK standard for AVR at specialist units.
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Mini-mitral (right thoracotomy)
A 5–6 cm incision under the right breast, femoral bypass, camera-assisted repair. The reference technique for mitral disease.
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MIDCAB LIMA–LAD
A small left thoracotomy, off-pump beating heart, LIMA sewn to the LAD. Ideal for isolated proximal LAD disease.
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Robotic-assisted (Da Vinci)
TECAB coronary bypass or fully endoscopic mitral repair through 1 cm ports. Specialist UK centres only - Papworth, Bristol.
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Endoscopic vein/artery harvest
For CABG - the saphenous vein or radial artery taken through a 2 cm cut, drastically reducing leg-wound complications.
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TAVI / MitraClip / LAAO
Transcatheter valve interventions through the groin - first-line for elderly TAVI candidates and high-risk mitral patients.
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Off-pump beating-heart surgery
Avoids the inflammatory hit of cardiopulmonary bypass. Often combined with mini-thoracotomy access for the right patient.
Our vetted UK network
A short list of high-volume cardiac centres, we picked them.
Papworth, Barts, King’s, Wythenshawe, Freeman Newcastle, Bristol, Blackpool and Leeds - the SCTS units doing mini-mitral, mini-AVR and MIDCAB every week.
Selection criteria
How we choose every cardiothoracic unit in our network.
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High-volume SCTS-registered cardiothoracic surgeons - Papworth, Barts, King’s, Wythenshawe, Newcastle, Bristol, Blackpool, Leeds
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Dedicated mini-mitral and mini-AVR teams doing the operation weekly, not occasionally
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Structural heart MDT including interventional cardiologist for TAVI, MitraClip and hybrid options
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Robotic cardiac programme available where it genuinely adds value
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is real cardiac surgery. Faster recovery, yes - but the same operation done inside the same heart, with the same risks worth understanding first.
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Not for every heart
Complex multi-vessel CABG, severe biventricular disease and complex aortic root work usually still need a full sternotomy. The MDT calls it honestly.
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Smaller cut, similar operation
The valve or graft done inside the chest is the same - the difference is how the surgeon gets in and how quickly you get out.
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Conversion to sternotomy
In 2–5% of mini-mitral and 5–10% of MIDCAB cases the team converts to a full sternotomy mid-operation. Planned for, not a failure.
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Femoral vessel access
Mini-mitral bypass usually goes through the groin. A pre-op CT confirms the vessels are big and clean enough to cannulate.
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Post-op AF is common
Atrial fibrillation happens in 20–30% of cardiac surgery patients - usually settles within days on rate control or a short course of amiodarone.
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Cardiac rehab matters
A six-week structured rehab programme is the single biggest predictor of a good long-term result. We book it before you leave hospital.
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Driving and flying
No driving for 4 weeks, no long-haul flights for 6. The DVLA rules are shorter after mini-thoracotomy than after a full sternotomy.
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Sternum-sparing means faster recovery
Right anterior thoracotomy and mini-mitral leave the breastbone intact - you can drive, lift and return to work weeks sooner.
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Red flags
Fever, spreading redness at the wound, new breathlessness or an irregular heartbeat after discharge - call the surgical team or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever access was used - mini-sternotomy, right thoracotomy or robotic - the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Cardiac surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your six-week review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and MDT decision
The valve or coronary problem, the pre-op echo and CT findings, and why this access was chosen over a full sternotomy.
- 02 Technique
Access, bypass and repair detail
Which incision, femoral or central cannulation, cross-clamp and bypass times, valve size or graft used, and any concomitant work.
- 03 Findings
Intra-operative TOE and haemodynamics
Post-repair mitral regurgitation grade, prosthetic gradients, coronary graft flow measurements, and any surprises found.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, medications, follow-up
Read this first: ITU/ward course, warfarin or DOAC plan, rehab referral, and when to see the surgeon and cardiologist again.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for minimally invasive cardiac surgery is broadly the same as for conventional cardiac surgery - funded when medically indicated. We confirm the code and any excess before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about minimally invasive heart surgery.
Quick answers on cost, centres, recovery, and how mini-mitral compares with MitraClip and full sternotomy.
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What counts as minimally invasive cardiac surgery?
Any cardiac operation done through an incision smaller than a full median sternotomy - mini-sternotomy, right anterior thoracotomy, mini-mitral through a right lateral cut, MIDCAB through a small left thoracotomy, robotic port access, and transcatheter procedures like TAVI or MitraClip.
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Is a mini-mitral repair as good as an open one?
At a high-volume UK centre - Papworth, Barts, King’s, Wythenshawe - repair rates for degenerative mitral disease sit above 90%, matching the best open series. The key is the surgeon’s volume, not the incision.
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How much does private minimally invasive heart surgery cost in the UK?
Roughly £30,000–£45,000 for a mini-sternotomy AVR, £35,000–£60,000 for a mini-mitral repair, and £25,000–£45,000 for a MIDCAB. Robotic and hybrid procedures run higher. We confirm a firm figure once the MDT has seen your imaging.
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Which UK centres do mini-mitral surgery?
The recognised high-volume mini-mitral units are Royal Papworth, Barts Heart Centre, King’s College Hospital, Wythenshawe, Freeman Newcastle, Bristol Heart Institute, Blackpool Victoria and Leeds General Infirmary. Volumes matter - we only refer within that group.
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Is minimally invasive surgery an option for every patient?
No. Complex multi-vessel CABG, severe biventricular dysfunction, complex aortic root disease and some redo operations still need a full sternotomy. The cardiac MDT calls it honestly rather than forcing the smaller incision.
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Recovery - how does it compare with a full sternotomy?
ITU stay is usually one night rather than two, hospital stay 4–6 days rather than 6–8, and return to driving and light work happens weeks sooner because the breastbone is preserved. The heart operation itself is the same.
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What is the mortality risk?
For isolated AVR or mitral repair in a good-risk patient at a specialist UK centre the operative mortality sits at 1–2%. Higher-risk patients - elderly, poor ventricle, redo - carry a higher figure the MDT will quote for your specific case.
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How is a mini-mitral different from a MitraClip?
Mini-mitral surgery repairs or replaces the valve through a small right thoracotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass - a durable, definitive fix. MitraClip is a catheter procedure through the groin for patients too frail for surgery. Different tools for different patients.
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Does insurance cover it?
Yes when medically indicated - the major UK insurers (Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna, Healix) fund cardiac surgery at recognised units. We confirm cover and any excess before booking.
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When should I go straight to A&E instead?
Crushing central chest pain, sudden breathlessness at rest, collapse or a very fast irregular pulse is a 999 call - not a clinic booking. Concierge planning is for stable, elective cardiac surgery.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Heart valve surgery
AVR, mitral repair, TAVI and TMVR options.
Learn more -
MIDCAB
Single-vessel LIMA–LAD through a small left thoracotomy.
Learn more -
Coronary artery bypass graft
Conventional and off-pump CABG.
Learn more -
Maze procedure
Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation.
Learn more
See also all tests and procedures.