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Cardiac surgery · 2026

Heart surgery at the world’s
highest-volume cardiac centre.

CABG from $18,000. TAVR from $30,000. Same Edwards and Medtronic implants used at Mass General and Cleveland Clinic — at Fuwai, Zhongshan and other Class A teaching hospitals with bilingual coordination.

Get a surgical second opinion Top cardiac hospitals

16,000+

Cardiac surgeries / yr

Fuwai Hospital — world's highest-volume centre

Fuwai annual report

50–70%

Cost savings

All-in CABG and valve cost vs US pricing

Industry data 2024

Class A

Tertiary centres

All recommended hospitals are top-tier teaching

NHC ratings

Edwards

+ Medtronic TAVR

Same implant brands as Western academic centres

Manufacturer data

21–28

Days typical stay

Open-heart surgery to safe-to-fly clearance

Industry guidance

Bilingual

Discharge package

Op note, echo, labs and follow-up schedule

Standard at top centres

Procedures

Six procedures, all-in pricing.

High volume

Isolated CABG

Off-pump or on-pump, 1–5 grafts, LIMA-to-LAD standard. Fuwai and Zhongshan run >2,000 CABGs/yr.

$18,000–28,000

Standard

Aortic valve replacement

Mechanical (St. Jude, On-X) or bioprosthetic (Edwards Magna Ease, Inspiris Resilia, Medtronic Avalus).

$20,000–32,000

Structural

TAVR (transcatheter)

Edwards Sapien 3 or Medtronic Evolut — for intermediate / high surgical risk patients. Same-day extubation common.

$30,000–45,000

Specialist

Mitral valve repair

Reference programs at Fuwai and Zhongshan — repair preferred over replacement when feasible. Robotic option available.

$22,000–34,000

Complex

Aortic root / Bentall

Composite valved-conduit repair for aortic root pathology. Performed at high-volume aortic centres only.

$30,000–45,000

Adult congenital

Atrial septal defect closure

Percutaneous device closure (Amplatzer) or surgical patch repair. Typically 5–7 day stay.

$10,000–18,000

Top cardiac hospitals

Six cardiac destinations
open to international patients.

Beijing

Fuwai Hospital 阜外医院 (National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases)

World's highest-volume cardiac surgery centre · CABG, valve, structural heart, aortic

Beijing

Anzhen Hospital 安贞医院

Class A · cardiothoracic specialist · pediatric and adult congenital programs

Shanghai

Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University 中山医院

Class A teaching · leading TAVR and structural heart program · robotic mitral repair

Shanghai

Shanghai Chest Hospital 上海胸科医院

Cardiothoracic specialist · high-volume CABG and TAVR · robotic surgery

Chengdu

West China Hospital 华西医院

Class A · regional reference for complex aortic surgery and adult congenital

Guangzhou

Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital 广东省人民医院

Class A · strong structural heart and arrhythmia program · international wing

Cost comparison

China vs US vs UK,
real cardiac pricing.

China
United States
United Kingdom
Isolated CABG (3-vessel)
$18,000–$28,000
$80,000–$150,000
£20,000–£35,000
Aortic valve replacement
$20,000–$32,000
$90,000–$170,000
£22,000–£38,000
TAVR
$30,000–$45,000
$60,000–$120,000
£28,000–£42,000
Mitral valve repair
$22,000–$34,000
$100,000–$200,000
£25,000–£42,000
Bentall procedure
$30,000–$45,000
$120,000–$220,000
£35,000–£55,000

Sources: Healthcare Bluebook 2024, CMS HCUP 2023, Bupa UK / NHS reference cost 2024, partner-hospital itemized international quotes 2024–2025. Pricing is indicative and excludes airfare, accommodation and complications. Educational only — not medical advice.

FAQ

Cardiac surgery in China — answered.

Why is China a credible destination for cardiac surgery?
Fuwai Hospital (Beijing) is the world's highest-volume cardiovascular centre, performing more than 16,000 cardiac surgeries per year — including over 4,000 CABGs and 2,000+ valve procedures. Public outcomes for isolated CABG mortality at Fuwai have been reported below the STS national benchmark in published peer-reviewed studies. Zhongshan Hospital (Shanghai) and Anzhen (Beijing) are similar high-volume Class A centres. Surgeons at these institutions typically perform 10–20× the case volume of an average Western surgeon.
What does cardiac surgery cost in China for an international patient?
Indicative all-in international-patient pricing at top centres: isolated CABG $18,000–$28,000; aortic valve replacement (mechanical or bioprosthetic) $20,000–$32,000; TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement, Edwards Sapien or Medtronic Evolut) $30,000–$45,000; mitral valve repair $22,000–$34,000; aortic root / Bentall procedure $30,000–$45,000. The same procedures in the United States routinely range $80,000–$200,000+. Quotes include surgeon, anesthesia, ICU, hospital stay and standard implant.
Which hospitals accept international cardiac patients?
(1) Fuwai Hospital (Beijing) — National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, the world's largest single cardiac centre by volume; (2) Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Shanghai) — Class A teaching hospital with a leading structural heart program; (3) Anzhen Hospital (Beijing) — high-volume cardiothoracic specialist centre; (4) Shanghai Chest Hospital — strong CABG and TAVR program; (5) West China Hospital (Chengdu) — regional reference for complex cardiac and aortic surgery. All accept international patients via international medical departments with English-speaking coordinators.
How long do I need to stay in China for cardiac surgery?
Typical timelines for an uncomplicated case: pre-operative workup 3–5 days; surgery + ICU 1–3 days; ward recovery 5–8 days; pre-discharge testing 2–3 days; outpatient review before flying home 7–10 days post-op. Plan for a 21–28 day stay for open-heart surgery, or 10–14 days for TAVR / structural percutaneous procedures. We do not recommend flying home earlier than 14 days post-sternotomy.
What about implant brands and devices?
Top centres use the same implants as Western academic hospitals: mechanical valves from St. Jude / Abbott and On-X; bioprosthetic valves from Edwards (Magna Ease, Inspiris Resilia) and Medtronic; TAVR systems from Edwards Sapien 3 and Medtronic Evolut; CABG grafts use standard internal mammary artery and saphenous vein conduits. Domestic Chinese TAVR devices (Venus A, J-Valve) are also available at significantly lower cost; brand selection should be discussed with your surgeon based on anatomy and durability needs. Always confirm device brand in your written quote.
Is the pre-operative workup acceptable to my home cardiologist?
Yes. Standard preop includes coronary CTA or invasive coronary angiography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac MRI for valve and aortic cases, full lab panel, carotid ultrasound, and pulmonary function testing — all to international guidelines. Reports are issued bilingually (Chinese + English) on request. Many patients submit their existing imaging and labs in advance to avoid duplicate workup.
What are the realistic risks of travelling for heart surgery?
Cardiac surgery is high-acuity and not without risk anywhere. Specific medical-tourism considerations: post-operative atrial fibrillation (15–30% incidence) may extend stay; venous thromboembolism risk on long-haul return flights — we require medical clearance and compression strategy before flight; need for re-admission for tamponade or wound complications in the first 30 days. Discuss your individual risk profile with the operating surgeon. Patients with EuroSCORE II > 8% or LVEF < 30% should weigh travel carefully.
Will my home cardiologist follow up after I return?
Yes — discharge summary, operative note, ICU records, echocardiogram, and a 30/60/90-day follow-up schedule are issued bilingually. Most home cardiologists can manage routine post-CABG / post-valve follow-up with INR or DOAC management, lipid optimization and stress testing. We encourage you to share the operative summary with your home team in advance and confirm they will accept follow-up.

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Surgical second opinion
within 7 business days.

Submit your coronary angiogram, echocardiogram and recent labs. We coordinate a written second opinion from a Fuwai or Zhongshan cardiothoracic surgeon, including procedure recommendation, indicative all-in cost and expected length of stay.

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This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician about your individual condition. All clinical decisions are made by the treating physician at the partner hospital.