Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the American healthcare system. Coronary artery bypass grafting, which restores blood flow by routing around blocked coronary arteries, costs $70,000 to $200,000 in US hospitals depending on complexity and location. Heart valve replacement surgery runs $80,000 to $180,000. For patients without comprehensive insurance, or those with high deductibles, or those who have been told their insurance will not cover a recommended procedure, these figures represent an impossible financial barrier.
International cardiac surgery at JCI-accredited hospitals offers access to the same surgical procedures, performed by trained cardiac surgeons using the same implant systems and surgical equipment, at costs that are 65 to 80 percent lower than equivalent US care. The clinical outcomes data at the hospitals in this guide is published, audited, and comparable to leading US cardiac centers.
Understanding the full landscape of international cardiac surgery, which procedures are available, which hospitals perform them at the highest standard, what the real costs are, and how to evaluate a cardiac hospital from abroad, is what this guide is designed to provide.
Patients ready to connect with MTA-verified cardiac surgery centers can browse and submit a free inquiry at Better by MTA, the Medical Tourism Association's patient platform.
What Cardiac Procedures Are Available Internationally
The range of cardiac procedures available at internationally accredited hospitals is comprehensive. Patients do not need to limit themselves to simple procedures when considering treatment abroad. The hospitals in this guide perform the full spectrum of cardiac surgery and cardiology procedures.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Coronary artery bypass grafting, commonly called bypass surgery or CABG, is the most commonly performed open-heart surgery in the world. The procedure routes blood flow around blocked or narrowed coronary arteries by using vessels harvested from another part of the body, most commonly the internal mammary artery or a vein from the leg, to create new pathways for blood to reach the heart muscle. It is performed under general anesthesia with cardiopulmonary bypass in most cases. Single, double, triple, and quadruple bypass variations are all performed at the hospitals in this guide.
Heart Valve Replacement and Repair
Heart valve disease, most commonly affecting the aortic and mitral valves, is treated through surgical valve replacement or valve repair. Mechanical valves are used for younger patients who can tolerate lifelong anticoagulation. Biological valves derived from porcine or bovine tissue are used for older patients or those who cannot manage anticoagulation. Minimally invasive valve surgery through smaller incisions has become standard at the leading cardiac centers, significantly reducing recovery time compared to traditional full sternotomy approaches.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, is a catheter-based procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery. It is performed under local or general anesthesia through a small incision in the groin or chest, with the new valve delivered via catheter and expanded within the existing diseased valve. TAVR has transformed care for patients who are high-risk for open surgery and is now available for intermediate-risk patients at many centers. Selected hospitals in this guide perform TAVR.
Angioplasty and Coronary Stenting
Percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, involves threading a catheter through the arterial system to the blocked coronary artery and deploying a balloon to open the blockage, typically followed by placement of a metal stent to maintain the opening. This is a less invasive alternative to bypass surgery for patients with single or limited vessel disease. Drug-eluting stents, which release medication to prevent re-narrowing, are standard at the hospitals in this guide.
Arrhythmia Treatment and Pacemakers
Cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, are treated through catheter ablation procedures, implantation of pacemakers, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. These procedures are available at all major international cardiac centers.
Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease
Several hospitals in this guide, notably Bumrungrad International and Burjeel Medical City, have active pediatric and adult congenital heart disease surgery programs for patients with structural heart defects that require surgical correction.
How Much Does Heart Surgery Cost Internationally
The cost savings available for cardiac surgery at internationally accredited hospitals are among the largest of any medical tourism category. The following ranges reflect industry averages at quality international providers.
Coronary artery bypass grafting runs $15,000 to $30,000 at leading international cardiac centers, compared to $70,000 to $200,000 in the United States. The savings on a double or triple bypass surgery commonly reach $60,000 to $150,000 after accounting for all treatment costs including the international hospital stay.
Heart valve replacement surgery costs $18,000 to $35,000 internationally, compared to $80,000 to $180,000 in the US. For patients needing both bypass and valve replacement in a combined procedure, international pricing runs $25,000 to $45,000 against US pricing that regularly exceeds $200,000.
Angioplasty and stenting runs $5,000 to $12,000 internationally, compared to $15,000 to $50,000 in the US. TAVR, where available, costs $25,000 to $45,000 internationally compared to $50,000 to $100,000 in the US.
Pacemaker implantation costs $6,000 to $15,000 internationally, compared to $20,000 to $50,000 in the US.
Cost estimates are industry averages and vary by procedure complexity, hospital, number of vessels involved, implant type, and length of hospital stay. Always request a fully itemized treatment estimate based on your specific diagnosis and proposed procedure before making any decisions.
Get a free personalized cardiac surgery cost estimate from MTA-verified hospitals at Better by MTA.
MTA Verified Cardiac Surgery Centers
Einstein Hospital Israelita — Sao Paulo, Brazil
Einstein Hospital Israelita is one of Latin America's most respected private hospitals and consistently ranks among the best hospitals in the region across all specialties. Its cardiac program is among the most established in South America, with a high-volume surgical team covering the full spectrum of cardiac surgery including bypass, valve replacement and repair, minimally invasive cardiac procedures, and structural heart disease intervention.
The hospital's international patient program serves patients from across Latin America, Europe, and North America who choose Sao Paulo as their treatment destination. Brazil's private healthcare infrastructure in Sao Paulo operates at standards comparable to the best European and North American institutions, and Einstein's specific position within that market reflects decades of investment in physician training, surgical equipment, and quality systems.
For North American patients, Sao Paulo is accessible via direct flights from Miami in approximately 9 hours, from New York in approximately 10 hours, and from other major US East Coast cities via direct connections. No visa is required for US citizens for stays up to 90 days.
Location: Av. Albert Einstein 627, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Key Services: Coronary Artery Bypass, Valve Replacement and Repair, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Structural Heart Disease, Cardiac Catheterization, Electrophysiology
Accreditation: JCI Accredited
Languages: English, Portuguese, and additional via international patient team
View Einstein Hospital Israelita on Better by MTA
Hospital Clinica Biblica — San Jose, Costa Rica
Hospital Clinica Biblica is Costa Rica's most respected private hospital and one of the country's oldest and most established medical institutions, with a history spanning over a century of private healthcare delivery in Central America. The hospital's cardiac program serves both Costa Rican patients and a significant international patient population, particularly from the United States and Canada, who choose Costa Rica for cardiac care based on its exceptional accessibility from North America.
The hospital's position as a full-service private hospital with an active international cardiac program in a country that is a three-hour direct flight from Miami creates a specific and valuable option for US patients. No other country in the Western Hemisphere combines Costa Rica's flight proximity to the United States with this level of established private hospital cardiac care. For patients who need cardiac surgery and want to minimize travel complexity while still accessing meaningful cost savings, Hospital Clinica Biblica is the most logistically sensible international option available to most Americans.
The cardiac program covers coronary artery bypass, valve surgery, angioplasty and stenting, pacemaker implantation, and cardiac diagnostics including echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and cardiac catheterization. The hospital has a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit for post-operative management and an experienced team of cardiac anesthesiologists.
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica, Central Street and First, Ave. 14-16
Key Services: Coronary Artery Bypass, Valve Surgery, Angioplasty and Stenting, Cardiac Catheterization, Pacemaker Implantation, Cardiac ICU
Accreditation: Joint Commission Accredited (domestic equivalent)
Travel Advantage: 3-hour direct flight from Miami, no US visa required
Languages: English, Spanish
View Hospital Clinica Biblica on Better by MTA
Hospital Pacifica Salud — Panama City, Panama
Hospital Pacifica Salud is one of Panama's most internationally oriented private hospitals, located in Panama City's Pacific Center Complex and serving a patient base drawn from across Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and North America. Panama's position as a regional hub, served by Copa Airlines' extensive Latin American and North American network, gives Pacifica Salud a geographic accessibility that extends across the Western Hemisphere.
The hospital's cardiac program covers coronary interventions, bypass surgery, valve procedures, and diagnostic cardiology within a modern facility that has been developed to serve the international patient population that Panama City attracts as a regional healthcare hub. The hospital's English-language international patient services and Panama's status as a dollarized economy with no currency exchange friction for US patients make logistical planning straightforward.
For US patients in particular, Panama City offers a practical combination of accessibility and cost. No visa is required for US citizens, the US dollar is Panama's official currency, and direct flights connect Miami to Panama City in approximately three hours. For patients in the Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States, Panama is often more accessible than several of the other destinations in this guide.
Location: Boulevard Pacifica y Via Punta Darien, Ciudad de Panama, Panama
Key Services: Cardiac Surgery, Coronary Bypass, Valve Procedures, Angioplasty, Cardiac Diagnostics
Travel Advantage: 3-hour flight from Miami, US dollar currency, no US visa required
Languages: English, Spanish
View Hospital Pacifica Salud on Better by MTA
Bumrungrad International Hospital — Bangkok, Thailand
Bumrungrad International is one of the world's most documented international hospitals and its cardiac program serves patients from over 190 countries annually. The Heart Center at Bumrungrad brings together cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and cardiac imaging specialists in a fully integrated cardiac program that covers everything from complex multi-vessel bypass surgery to structural heart disease intervention and advanced heart failure management.
Thailand's cost position for cardiac surgery is highly competitive relative to the United States, with bypass surgery running approximately $15,000 to $25,000 and valve replacement costing $18,000 to $30,000, against US figures that regularly exceed $100,000 to $200,000 for equivalent procedures. For patients who can manage the longer travel distance, Bangkok represents the combination of clinical quality, cost savings, and international patient experience that makes it the most commonly cited international cardiac destination among patients from Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Bumrungrad's JCI accreditation has been maintained continuously and reflects institutional commitment to the highest international standards for patient safety, clinical outcomes, and quality management. The hospital's cardiac intensive care unit is equipped to modern Western standards, and post-operative recovery protocols follow evidence-based guidelines consistent with leading US and European cardiac centers.
Location: 33 Soi Sukhumvit 3, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Key Services: Coronary Artery Bypass, Valve Replacement and Repair, TAVR, Angioplasty and Stenting, Electrophysiology and Ablation, Pacemaker and ICD Implantation, Cardiac Imaging, Cardiac ICU
Accreditation: JCI Accredited
Languages: English, Thai, Arabic, Japanese, and additional via international team
View Bumrungrad International Hospital on Better by MTA
How to Evaluate a Cardiac Hospital Before Committing
Cardiac surgery requires a more rigorous pre-commitment evaluation than any other medical tourism category. These are the questions that matter most.
- Is the hospital JCI accredited, and can you verify this directly through the public JCI database at jointcommissioninternational.org? JCI accreditation for cardiac programs requires specific standards for surgical quality, intensive care capability, and outcomes reporting.
- What are the hospital's published mortality and morbidity rates for your specific procedure? Reputable cardiac centers track and can share de-identified outcomes data. Be cautious of any hospital that cannot discuss their outcomes clearly.
- Who specifically is your cardiac surgeon, what is their training background, and how many procedures of your specific type do they perform annually? Surgeon volume is one of the strongest predictors of cardiac surgery outcomes.
- What is the cardiac ICU standard? Post-operative care is as important as the surgical procedure itself in cardiac surgery. Confirm the hospital's cardiac intensive care capability and nurse-to-patient ratios.
- How will coordination with your home cardiologist work during treatment and after discharge? Confirm that full operative notes, imaging, and discharge documentation will be provided in English for your home physician.
- What is the process if complications arise after you return home? Understand this before you travel.
- Is your home cardiologist comfortable with international follow-up care? Having a frank conversation with your home physician before traveling is an important part of planning.
An Important Note on Medical Advice
Nothing in this guide constitutes medical advice. Cardiac surgery decisions are among the most consequential medical choices a person makes, and no guide can substitute for a thorough evaluation by a qualified cardiologist and cardiac surgeon. The information here is for educational purposes to help patients understand what international cardiac care involves and which MTA-verified hospitals serve cardiac patients. Always make treatment decisions in consultation with your current medical team.
Use an MTA Verified provider for all international cardiac care. Every hospital in this guide has been reviewed by the Medical Tourism Association. Connect through Better by MTA.
Ready to Connect With an International Cardiac Surgery Center
Better by MTA connects you with MTA-verified cardiac hospitals worldwide. One free inquiry, no obligation, no intermediary fees.
Start My Free Cardiac Surgery Inquiry
Browse All Verified Cardiac Hospitals on Better by MTA
By Jonathan Edelheit, CEO and Co-Founder, Medical Tourism Association. Last updated May 2026.
.png)
