Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. These conditions, primarily heart attacks and strokes, highlight the critical importance of cardiac healthcare and the expertise of heart surgeons.
The best heart surgeons in the world are distinguished by their proficiency in complex surgeries, innovation in treatment methods, and contributions to cardiac research. They work in top medical institutions and handle high-risk surgeries, significantly improving survival rates and the quality of life for heart disease patients. Their skills and commitment are central to advancing global cardiac care.
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Below is the list of the best heart surgeons in the world.
Best Heart Surgeons in the USA
The USA is the global leader in medical science. They have developed top-tier facilities for the research and development of cardiology. They have attracted some of the best heart surgeons in the world to pursue their professional careers and research work.
You can find some of the best heart surgeons in the world practicing in the US below:
1. Valluvan Jeevanandam
- Dr. Valluvan is recognized as one of the best heart transplant surgeons globally.
- He has an impressive track record, having performed over 5000 cardiac surgeries.
- Dr. Valluvan has conducted over 1000 heart transplants, including those involving artificial hearts.
- He made medical history by being the first surgeon to successfully implant CardioVad, a groundbreaking device that enhances the heart function. This provided hope to patients for whom heart transplants were not feasible.
- Dr. Valluvan achieved a remarkable feat by performing a triple organ transplant twice within a span of 27 hours. He transplanted healthy kidneys, hearts, and livers to two different patients.
- His groundbreaking achievements led to him being acknowledged as the best heart transplant surgeon in the world.
2. Dr. William W O'Neill, USA
- Dr. O'Neill is the Medical Director of the Center for Structural Heart Disease at the Henry Ford Health System.
- Founding member of the American Board of Internal Medicine interventional cardiology board.
- Recognized as a world leader in Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Disease.
- Actively involved in groundbreaking research to discover and treat various heart diseases.
- Selected as one of the 50 Master Fellows out of 4500 international members of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (MSCAI).
- Pioneer in using Angioplasty to treat heart attacks, now a global mainstream treatment.
- First surgeon in the US to perform transcranial aortic valve replacement using a catheter.
- Implements principles to address life-threatening side effects of severe heart attacks, significantly increasing survival rates from 50% to 76%.
- Achievements include America's Top Doctors Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Founding chair of the Innovation in Intervention Summit at the American College of Cardiology.
- Recipient of the Seymour Gordon Award by the American Heart Association.
Best Heart Surgeons in the UK
The UK is among the prominent destinations in the world for cardiac surgery. The UK has the top cardiac surgeons in the world. They are experts in all the major domains of cardiac surgeries. Whether you need an expert cardiothoracic surgeon or a bypass surgery specialist, you can avail yourself of them in the UK.
You can find some of the best heart surgeons in the world practicing in the UK below:
3. Kulvinder Lall, UK
- Dr. Lall is the best cardiothoracic surgeon in the world. He has over 30 years of experience as a cardiac surgeon. He joined the St. Bartholomew Hospital as one of the youngest cardiac surgeons in the UK.
- He has performed over 5000 cardiac surgeries with astonishing success, according to the “Care Quality Commission and Department of Health.”
- He is among the world's best cardiac surgeons in coronary, atrial, mitral, and electrophysiological surgeries. He has published over 15 journal articles in these fields globally.
- He is the first surgeon to perform a stentless heart valve implantation in Asia.
- Currently, he is practicing the upcoming generation of advanced sutureless heart valve implantations in London. He is actively presenting the results of his practice in several international meetings across the world.
4. Dr. Franco Ciulli
- Dr. Ciulli is the Clinical Director of the Bristol Heart Institute. He is one of the most senior heart surgeons in the UK. Dr. Ciulli is recognized as an expert in adult cardiac surgeries.
- In his extensive career of over 30 years, he has performed over 5000 open-heart surgeries. He also has performed numerous complex heart surgeries with an astonishing success rate of 98%. With these figures, he was recognized among the best cardiac surgeons in the world.
- Dr. Ciulli led a team in Sydney, the first to perform heart-lung and double-lung transplants.
- He also was the first to perform minimally invasive mitral valve replacement surgery in the UK.
Specialties:
- Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries
- Beating Heart Surgery
- Mitral Valve Repair
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- Aortic Valve Surgery
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Best Heart Surgeons in India
India is the world's most popular medical tourism destination. This is mainly because of their doctors. The leading doctors in India are highly successful in their field worldwide. Below you can find some of the best heart surgeons in the world practicing in India:
You can find some of the best heart surgeons in the world practicing in the India below:
5. Ramakanta Panda
- He is the Vice Chairman and the Managing Director of the Asian Heart Institute. He is also the Chief Consultant for Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery. He has a vast experience of over 44 years in this field. He is recognized as the best heart surgeon in India and the among the best heart surgeons in the world by many.
- Dr. Ramakanta has performed over 20,000 in his extensive career. He has performed over 1,000 redo bypass surgeries and over 3,000 complex cardiac surgeries.
- He is known as the surgeon with the safest hands, with a success rate of 99.7 % in bypass surgeries.
- He specializes in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Redo Bypass Surgery, Complex Aneurysms, Beating Heart Surgery, and Valve Repair.
- Training:
- Cardiac Surgery from AIIMS Delhi.
- Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, US, under Dr. Floyd Loop, pioneer of heart bypass surgery.
- Practice at Harefield Hospital, UK, under Professor Magdi Yacoub, renowned cardiac surgeon.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Introduced "Total Arterial Revascularization" in India
- Leadership led Asian Heart Institute to be named "The Best Heart Hospital in India" for three years.
- Accredited Asian Heart Hospital with JCI, ISO, and NIAHO
- Padma Bhushan Award recipient (third-highest civilian honor in India)
- Utkal Ratna awardee in 2015
- Received "Rashtriya Samman" twice from the government of India for being among the highest taxpayers.
Philanthropy:
- Established Sarla Madan Charitable Trust and Asian Heart Charitable Trust
- Aims to provide top-tier cardiac surgeries to the financially needy.
6. Dr. Vijay Dikshit
- Dr. Dikshit is a senior consultant in the cardiology department at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad. He is among India's most experienced cardiac surgeons, with an illustrious career of over 40 years.
- In his career, he has performed over 10,000 open-heart surgeries, for which he was honored by the Apollo Group and Medtronic Inc., USA. He was honored as one of the top cardiac surgeons in the world for this achievement.
- He is among the first surgeons in India to perform the Stentless Bioprosthetic Valve Replacement Surgery.
Achievements:
- Fie National Award received from Dr. Man Mohan Singh
- Ramakrishna Mission Honors for dedicated service to society
- Consecutively performed 362 coronary bypass surgeries without any mortality.
- Successfully performed critical cardiac surgery on a two-day-old infant.
7. Dr. Naresh Trehan
- Dr. Trehan is the Chairman of Medanta - The Medicity, the founder and a former director of the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. He is recognized as one of the most successful cardiac surgeons in India.
- In his extensive career of over 40 years, he has performed over 48,000 cardiac surgeries so far. Making him one of the best heart surgeons in the world.
Associations:
- Former President of the International Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS), USA
- Member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, USA
- Member of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Achievements:
- Personal surgeon to the President of India since 1991
- Holder of the Padma Shri, the third-highest civilian award
- Awarded the Padma Bhushan for distinguished services in medical science
- Recipient of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Award
- Dr. B. C. Roy National Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award for services in cardiology
- AMA Physician's Recognition Award
- Rotary Ratna Award
- Rajiv Gandhi National Unity Award
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Best Heart Surgeon in Spain
Spain is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for heart surgeries. They are capable of performing the most advanced surgical procedures at top standards. They have developed world-class facilities for cardiac surgeries, and their best cardiac surgeons can fully utilize their potential.
You can find some of the best heart surgeons in the world practicing in the Spain below:
8. Dr. Josep Brugada
- Dr. Brugada is the director of the Pediatric Arrhythmias Unit at the Sant Joan de Deu Hospital and a senior consultant at the Centro Medico Teknon Hospital in Barcelona. He has a vast experience of over 40 years.
- He, alongside his brother, discovered the Brugada Syndrome. Their discovery was a breakthrough in cardiology. Their research enabled cardiologists to uncover the reason behind "sudden cardiac deaths." This made Dr. Brugada one of the top cardiac surgeons in the world.
- Dr. Brugada has published over 500 articles in the field of cardiologist for various International Journals.
- He has received King Jaimie I prize for his clinical excellence in Spain and the Fritz Acker Prize from the German Society of Cardiology.
Qualifications:
- Bachelors in Medicine and Surgery, University of Barcelona
- Ph.D. in Medicine and Surgery, University of Barcelona
- Cardiology Specialist, Sports Medicine, and Biology Specialist, Montpellier
- Masters in Integrated Health Services Management, ESADE Business School
Specializations:
- Pacemaker Surgery
- CMR (Cardiac Magnetic Resonance)
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Heart Failure
- Obesity
9. Dr. Raúl F. Abella
- Dr. Abella is the Head of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. He is also the Director of Barcelona International Health Centre.
- In his illustrious career of over 25 years, he has performed over 3000 heart surgeries with severe complexities. He achieved a success rate of 98.2% in those surgeries, making him one of the best cardiac surgeons in the world.
- Dr. Abella specializes in Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease. He has treated over 5000 such cases in 9 different countries.
There are several world-class heart surgeons in countries other than we discussed earlier. These surgeons are well renowned for their skills and achievements. You can find them below!
10. Dr. Gideon Cohen, Canada
- Dr. Cohen is the leading heart surgeon in North America and among the best heart surgeons in the world. He has over 30 years of experience as a heart surgeon.
- Dr. Cohen was the first surgeon in Canada to perform a minimally invasive maze procedure explicitly modified to treat chronic atrial fibrillation.
- He has published over 50 journal articles on surgical innovations and quality improvement in cardiac surgeries.
As of now, he is holding various positions in the top medical institutes across Canada; they are:
- Director of Cardiovascular Surgery division at Cleveland Clinic.
- Chief of Cardiac Surgery Department at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
- Medical Director of Schulich Heart Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
- Chairman of the Cardiac Surgery department at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
- Member of the board of directors of "Save a Child's Heart”.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Wilfred G. Bigelow Award in Cardiac Surgery
- Cleveland Clinic Surgical Excellence Award
- Tanna Schulich Award in Cardiac Surgery
- Heart and Stroke Foundation Research Grant
- PSI Research Grant
11. Prof. Souilamas Mohammed Redha
Dr. Redha is among the best cardiothoracic surgeon in the world. He has a total experience of 36 years in this field and over 25 years as a specialist. He is the president of the Thoracic Surgery Council at the Emirate Thoracic Society.
Qualifications:
- MD from the Medical School, University of Algiers, Algeria
- French Medical Degree from Paris-Descartes Medical School, Paris
- Masters in Thoracoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology and Chest Anatomy from Paris-Descartes University
- PhD in Medical Ethics and Lung Transplantation from Paris-Descartes Medical School University
Specializations:
- Arrhythmia Treatment with Ablation and Pacemakers
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Treatment
- Cardiac OPD Procedures
- Coronary Artery Surgery
Associations:
- Member of Cardio-Thoracic Network
- Member of American Thoracic Society & British Transplantation Society
- Member of International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation
- Member of French Thoracic Society
- Member of International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation
12. Prof. Rob Kinsley, South Africa
- Prof. Kinsley is the founding member of the World Society of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. He is also the founder and Chairman of the Children's Cardiac Foundation of Africa.
- He has an experience of over 54 years of in cardiology. Due to his vast experience, he is among the most respectable and best cardiac surgeons in the world.
- He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award in cardiology from the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons, South Africa. He has also received the Paul Harris Rotary Award from the South African Heart Association.
Qualifications: - MBBS, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Fellowship in Cardiology, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Fellowship in Cardiac Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, USA
Specializations:
- Coronary Artery Surgery
- Cardiac OPD Procedures
- Arrhythmia Treatment with Ablation and Pacemakers
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Treatment
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Let's discuss all the criteria for choosing the best heart surgeons in the world!
How to Choose the Best Heart Surgeon
Some factors you should keep in mind while choosing a heart surgeon are the following:
- Specialization:
A heart surgeon who specializes in the type of surgery you need is more likely to have more experience in dealing with your condition. This makes them a more suitable choice than a general surgeon.
- Education:
Learning about a surgeon's educational qualifications is essential before choosing them. Most surgeons in the western world have an undergraduate degree in general surgery followed by at least five years of postgraduate training in a specialty such as cardiac surgery.
- Board certification:
It is essential to find out if the surgeon you are considering is board certified in the specialty of cardiac surgery. This shows that they have the necessary training and experience to perform the surgery you need.
- Referral:
To find a heart surgeon, ask friends or family for recommendations. If you can't get personal referrals, consult your doctor. Check the surgeon's credentials and experience to ensure they are the right fit for your needs.
Latest Treatments Provided by Heart Surgeons in the World
Heart surgeons around the world are constantly innovating and pushing the boundaries of cardiac care. Here are some of the latest and most exciting treatments being offered:
Minimally Invasive Surgery:
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR):
- Replaces a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery.
- Catheter inserted through the groin or arm for a minimally invasive approach.
Mitral Valve Repair:
- Minimally invasive techniques for mitral valve repair.
- Avoids extensive chest incisions.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery:
- Robots assist surgeons for precision in complex procedures.
- Results in smaller incisions and faster recovery.
Personalized Medicine:
Genetic Testing:
- Analyzes patient's genes to predict heart disease risk.
- Tailors treatment plans accordingly.
3D Printing:
- Creates personalized 3D models of a patient's heart.
- Helps surgeons plan and rehearse complex procedures for safer and more efficient surgery.
Emerging Technologies:
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR):
- Under investigation, holds promise similar to TAVR for mitral valve replacement.
Cardiac Tissue Engineering:
- Research on growing new heart tissue to replace damaged areas.
- Potential cure for heart failure.
Artificial Intelligence:
- Uses AI to analyze medical images and data.
- Improves diagnosis, predicts outcomes, and guides treatment decisions.
These are just a few examples, and the field of cardiac surgery continues to evolve rapidly.
