Prof. Dr. Ali Serdar Fak
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 29+years exp.
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Heart Surgery
Aortic valve replacement surgery
A guide to aortic valve replacement surgery in Turkey: who needs it, open surgery versus TAVI, mechanical and biological valves, the hospital price compared with the UK, US and Germany, how long to stay, recovery, risks from named registries, and what to check before you travel for heart surgery.
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Dr. Bülent İlçöl
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 25+years exp.
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Aortic valve replacement surgery in Turkey: what to know before you book
The aortic valve is the one-way door between the left ventricle and the aorta. When it narrows (aortic stenosis) or leaks (aortic regurgitation) and symptoms or heart changes appear, the usual treatment is to replace it. Aortic valve replacement surgery is a major heart operation, and the decision to travel for it deserves more care than for most treatments.
On our site replacement of the aortic valve starts at €14,630 at an accredited cardiac hospital in Turkey; this is the hospital's list price for international patients. Many patients come because a public waiting list at home is long or private care costs several times more. The operation itself is standard cardiac surgery, performed in hospitals with cardiac intensive care, perfusion teams and cardiologists. What changes abroad is the planning: your reports, scans and medicines must be reviewed before you fly, and your follow-up must be arranged for when you are home.
This guide covers cost, the choice between open surgery and TAVI, valve types, the hospital stay, recovery and the risks. It does not replace your cardiologist. If you have fainting, chest pain at rest or breathlessness that is getting worse, you need urgent assessment at home before any trip.
How much does aortic valve replacement surgery cost in Turkey?
The hospitals on this page show their price in your currency, starting at €14,630. The aortic valve replacement cost in a written quote should state which valve is included, the surgeon, the theatre and the days in intensive care and on the ward. The table gives approximate typical figures for comparison; they vary widely and depend on the valve and complications.
| Country | Approximate price (self-pay) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | from €14,630 | Hospital list price on this site; confirm valve type, ICU days and what a complication would cost |
| United Kingdom (private) | about £25,000–£45,000 | The NHS provides the operation free; waiting times vary |
| United States | often above $100,000 in hospital charges | Billed in several parts; insured patients pay much less than charged |
| Germany | about €25,000–€45,000 | Statutory insurance covers the operation for residents |
Aortic valve replacement cost UK: the NHS and private care
In the UK the operation is free on the NHS for those who need it, so the aortic valve replacement cost UK patients compare is mostly the private price, or the price of avoiding a wait. If your cardiologist rates your valve as severe and symptomatic, waiting is itself a risk; do not delay treatment to arrange a trip. Flights, a companion's stay, extra days if recovery is slower and a second hospital stay for a complication are normally not included in the package.
Who needs aortic valve replacement surgery?
Treatment is recommended for severe aortic stenosis with symptoms (breathlessness, angina, fainting), and for severe stenosis without symptoms when the heart function falls or other criteria are met, as set out in the European (ESC/EACTS) valvular heart disease guidelines. Severe aortic regurgitation is treated when symptoms or a failing left ventricle appear. Valve disease is staged by echocardiography; a recent echocardiogram and, for many patients, a CT or coronary angiogram are needed before surgery. If you also have narrowed coronary arteries, bypass can be done during the same operation.
Mild or moderate disease is monitored, not operated on. If an overseas clinic recommends replacement without recent imaging, ask for the measurements behind the advice.
TAVI vs open heart surgery: which operation?
There are two main routes. In surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) the chest is opened through the breastbone, the heart is stopped on a heart-lung machine and the valve is cut out and replaced. In TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) a folded valve is delivered by a catheter, usually from the groin, into the old valve, without stopping the heart.
| Open surgery (SAVR) | TAVI | |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Breastbone incision, heart-lung machine | Catheter through the groin artery, usually |
| Typical hospital stay | About 5–8 days | About 2–4 days |
| Recovery | Several weeks to months; breastbone heals in about six weeks | Often quicker; a few weeks |
| Guideline preference | Younger patients and lower surgical risk (ESC/EACTS: under about 75) | Older patients and those at higher surgical risk (ESC/EACTS: about 75 and over) |
| Durability data | Decades of follow-up | Shorter follow-up, especially in younger patients |
The choice is made by a heart team of a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon from your age, anatomy, other illnesses and risk score. Ask which option you are being offered and why. Valve repair is sometimes possible for regurgitation; see heart valve repair and heart valve replacement for other valves.
Mechanical or biological valve?
- Mechanical valve: very durable, but you take warfarin for life and need regular INR blood tests, which you must be able to arrange at home.
- Biological (tissue) valve: from pig or cow tissue; usually no lifelong warfarin, but it wears out over about 10–20 years, more quickly in younger patients, and may need a second procedure.
Age, plans for pregnancy, your ability to monitor warfarin and your wishes decide. Make sure the choice is explained, and that the valve model and the serial number appear on your discharge report.
The hospital stay and your trip
Plan on a long trip. After arrival you meet the surgical team and complete tests: blood tests, ECG, echocardiogram, chest imaging and usually coronary imaging. The operation lasts about three to five hours. You wake in cardiac intensive care, usually for one to two days, then move to a ward. Most patients leave hospital five to eight days after open surgery and need further days in a nearby hotel under review, so a total stay of about two to three weeks is typical. The surgeon decides when you may fly home.
Bring a companion, your reports and imaging on a disc, your medicine list and your cardiologist's contact. The how it works page describes the process, and Istanbul covers the city. Ask for the discharge summary, the operation note and the valve details before you leave.
Aortic valve replacement recovery
- Weeks 1–2: tiredness, chest-wall soreness and short walks. Sleep on your back, hold a pillow when coughing, and avoid lifting anything heavy.
- Weeks 2–6: walking distance grows; the breastbone heals. No driving for the period your surgeon and the licensing authority advise, commonly a month.
- Months 2–3: most people return to desk work, and a cardiac rehabilitation programme at home helps. Full activity is usually allowed after about three months.
Aortic valve replacement recovery after TAVI is often faster. Follow-up includes a repeat echocardiogram, usually at about one to three months, and the INR monitoring if you have a mechanical valve. Tell your dentist about your valve; people with a prosthetic valve need antibiotic cover for some dental procedures, and endocarditis symptoms (fever, chills) need prompt review.
Risks of aortic valve replacement surgery
Risk depends on age, heart function, other disease and urgency. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons registry reports operative mortality for isolated surgical aortic valve replacement of about 2 in 100 across all patients, lower in younger low-risk patients and higher in older or frail ones. Stroke is reported in roughly 1–2 in 100, and other risks are bleeding, atrial fibrillation (common and usually temporary), kidney injury, infection and the need for a pacemaker. Mechanical valves bring a risk of bleeding or clots if anticoagulation is not controlled.
Your surgeon should give a personal risk estimate (such as EuroSCORE II or STS score) in writing. Do not travel for a non-urgent operation if your symptoms are unstable. Instead, ask your local team first whether treatment at home is possible in time.
Choosing a hospital and checking a quote
Look for a hospital with a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit, 24-hour cardiology and anaesthesia cover, and a surgical team that performs valve surgery regularly. The hospitals on our site hold Ministry of Health licences. Ask in writing:
- the number of aortic valve operations the team performs each year, and whether your operation is open surgery or TAVI;
- which valve is included and what it adds if you prefer another type;
- the number of days in intensive care and on the ward in the price, and who pays if a complication extends the stay;
- how follow-up works after you return, including echocardiogram reports sent to your cardiologist.
Ordinary travel insurance excludes planned surgery; read our insurance guide and ask a specialist insurer. See also how to choose a safe surgeon in Turkey and the cardiac surgery hub.
Hospitals with Cardiac Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
At the accredited hospital on our site it starts at about €14,630 (shown in your currency on this page). The final price depends on the valve, the technique, the days in intensive care and on the ward, and is confirmed in a written quote after your reports are reviewed.
The operation is free on the NHS for those who need it. Private surgery in the UK typically costs about £25,000–£45,000, depending on the hospital and the valve.
Safety depends on your own risk, the team's experience and the hospital's intensive care. Ask for the number of valve operations performed each year, a written risk estimate and the arrangements for complications.
Neither is better for everyone. European guidelines favour TAVI for patients aged about 75 or over or at high surgical risk, and open surgery for younger, lower-risk patients, with the final choice made by a heart team.
About two to three weeks for open surgery: tests, the operation, one to two days in intensive care, five to eight days in hospital and further days under review nearby. TAVI is usually shorter.
Most people need about six weeks for the breastbone to heal and about three months to return to full activity after open surgery. Recovery after TAVI is often quicker.
A mechanical valve lasts for decades but needs lifelong warfarin and regular blood tests. A biological valve usually needs no warfarin but wears out over about 10–20 years. Age and your ability to monitor warfarin guide the choice.
Only when your surgeon says so after checking your wound, heart rhythm, echocardiogram and blood tests. Many patients fly some weeks after open surgery, and earlier after TAVI.
Registries such as the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database report operative mortality of about 2 in 100 for isolated surgical valve replacement and stroke in roughly 1–2 in 100; bleeding, atrial fibrillation, infection and pacemaker need also occur.
Your echocardiogram and any CT or angiogram reports with images on disc, recent blood tests, a list of medicines, your cardiologist's contact and a companion. Ask for a discharge summary, operation note and valve details before you leave.
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