❤️ Cardiac Surgery & Cardiology
Bypass, valve surgery, stents and electrophysiology — decided on the angiogram, not on a price list.
What is actually available
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — on-pump and off-pump, including multiple grafts.
- Valve surgery — repair or replacement, single or multiple valves, mechanical or tissue prosthesis.
- Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVR/TAVI) — for patients who are not good candidates for open surgery.
- Coronary stenting (PCI) — including complex and multi-vessel disease.
- Electrophysiology — ablation for atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, and pacemaker or defibrillator implantation.
- Aortic surgery — for aneurysm and dissection, which is usually an urgent rather than a planned admission.
- We will not plan anything before the angiogram is read. Whether you need bypass, a stent, or neither is decided by the coronary anatomy, and a report that says “blocked artery” without images tells a surgeon very little.
- We will not promise a surgical result. Cardiac risk depends on your heart function, your other conditions and your age, and the surgical team is the only party that can quantify it.
- We will not tell you to fly long-haul in the weeks after heart surgery. The treating team sets the date, and it is typically later than patients expect.
- If you are having an acute heart attack, do not contact us. Go to the nearest emergency department. We are not an emergency service and cannot help in an acute event.
Published reference ranges
| Item | Reference range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coronary bypass (CABG) | $15,000–25,000 (¥105,000–180,000) | Varies with the number of grafts |
| Valve surgery, single valve (repair or replacement) | $7,000–21,000 (¥50,000–150,000) | Mechanical and tissue prostheses differ in price |
| Transcatheter valve (TAVR/TAVI) | $14,000–21,000 (¥100,000–150,000) | Avoids open surgery; not suitable for everyone |
| Stent / angioplasty (PCI), total admission | $4,200–11,300 (¥30,000–80,000) | Depends on the number of stents |
| Electrophysiology study and ablation | 待填：具体价格 | Catheter ablation for arrhythmia |
| Pacemaker or ICD implantation | 待填：具体价格 | Device choice drives most of the cost |
| Congenital heart surgery (ASD/VSD repair) | 待填：具体价格 | Confirm before planning |
Reference ranges for planning only. Not bills. Cardiac totals move with the number of grafts, the prosthesis chosen and the days in intensive care, so ask for a quote that itemises those three.
How long you would need to stay
- Assessment first: 3–7 days — angiography, echocardiography and surgical review, before any decision.
- In hospital after surgery: 7–14 days for bypass or valve surgery, including a period in intensive care.
- In Chengdu in total: 4–6 weeks. Follow-up imaging and a wound check come before the flight home.
- Before you fly: the treating team sets the clearance date, usually 3–4 weeks after open surgery.
- Stents are shorter: often 3–5 days in hospital, with a shorter stay overall.
What we need from you to get a real answer
- The coronary angiogram images or the full report — this is the document that decides everything. If a catheter angiogram has not been done, say so and we will say what is needed first.
- Echocardiography with the ejection fraction, and an ECG.
- Any stress test, CT angiography or MRI of the heart.
- Your current cardiac medications, including antiplatelets and anticoagulants.
- Your other conditions — diabetes, kidney function, lung disease — and whether you have had previous heart surgery.
Send the angiogram report and the echocardiogram. We will get a named cardiac surgeon's read on which procedure fits, whether you are a candidate for it, and a written cost range.
Questions patients ask
Is it safe for me to fly to China with a heart condition?
That depends entirely on how stable you are, and it is a question for a cardiologist rather than a coordinator — including us. Flying is generally reasonable with stable angina, controlled arrhythmia or well-managed heart failure, and generally unwise within weeks of a heart attack, with unstable symptoms, or with severe uncorrected valve disease or uncontrolled arrhythmia. Cabin pressure reduces oxygen saturation, and a long-haul flight means hours in a seat. Send us the cardiology report and we will get a written opinion on fitness to fly before you book anything. If you are having acute chest pain now, go to an emergency department — not to us.
How do I know whether I need a bypass or a stent?
The coronary anatomy decides it, and the anatomy is only visible on the angiogram. Broadly, stenting suits disease in one or two vessels with suitable lesions, while bypass tends to be preferred for left main disease, three-vessel disease, or when diabetes is present — because the long-term outcomes favour surgery in those groups. A report that says “blocked artery” without images or a description of the lesions tells a surgeon almost nothing, and no responsible cardiac team will plan an operation from it. Send the angiogram images or the full report, and we will get a named surgeon to say which procedure fits and why.
What happens if there is a problem after I get home?
This is the part most coordinators do not discuss, and it is the main risk of travelling for heart surgery. Before you leave, the hospital provides a discharge summary and follow-up plan in English, which your local cardiologist can work from directly. We arrange remote follow-up after you return, and the hospital's international department can be reached about medication or complications. For anything urgent, you go to your local emergency department — they will treat you first and read the paperwork afterwards, which is why the paperwork matters. What we cannot do is promise a particular outcome. No one can, and a provider who does is not being straight with you.
Ready to talk through your case?
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