Keyhole Heart Surgery in London

Keyhole heart surgery, also known as minimally invasive heart surgery, uses small incisions between the ribs instead of traditionally breaking the breastbone. Surgeons operate through these openings using specialised instruments and cameras. The outcome is less pain, fewer complications and faster recovery times. View our full list of cardiac care services and minimally invasive cardiac surgery below, along with further details on each treatment and our heart screening programmes.

2 Weeks

is the average surgery wait time*

1500

minimally invasive procedures

100+

5-star patient reviews.
Read now

35 Years

of clinical and surgical experience

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Keyhole Surgery

Patients who develop narrowed heart arteries often require surgery to bypass the narrowed arteries. This operation is usually performed through a large breastbone cut. Most patients call this surgery CABG or “triple bypass” or “quadruple bypass” dependi...

Keyhole Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Top heart surgeon Mr Inderpaul Birdi has been performing aortic valve replacement surgery for more than 20 years which means that we are uniquely experienced to provide patients with an alternative procedure for their heart condition that has many benefits...

Keyhole Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect whereby a hole is present between the two collecting chambers of the heart, and results in blood overloading the right side of the heart.

Keyhole Mitral Valve Replacement & Repair Surgeries

Many individuals who need mitral valve repair surgery or mitral valve replacement prefer to avoid having their breastbone opened for understandable reasons. The cut is large, and somewhat painful. In addition, healing takes nearly 3 months, and this prevents...

tricuspid heart valve replacement

As with all heart disease, it must be diagnosed quickly and treated by experts which we offer at our London Heart Clinic. We understand that heart disease can be scary, and that if you are diagnosed with it, it’s best to be prepared, and to have all t...

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Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery

At The Keyhole Heart Clinic, our expertise enables us to provide a wide spectrum of cardiac services and minimally invasive procedures.

Our experienced surgical team is led by Clinical Lead, Director and Founder Inderpaul Birdi. He is an innovator in minimally invasive techniques, with over 20 years of experience in keyhole surgery for heart conditions.

If you want to speak with the team at our London heart clinic, contact us today to book a consultation in our clinic or via video.

Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Mr Birdi is one of the few heart surgeons in the world who can perform aortic valve replacement through small incisions instead of traditional open-heart surgery. This advanced surgical procedure is compatible with the latest heart valve options.

Mitral Valve Repair & Mitral Valve Replacement

Many individuals who need mitral valve repair surgery or mitral valve replacement prefer to avoid having a breastbone incision for understandable reasons. Our minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is a better option for severe heart disease.

Heart Bypass By Keyhole Surgery

Patients who develop narrowed heart arteries often require surgery to bypass the narrowed arteries. It is conducted for patients with a narrowed coronary artery to improve blood flow. In 2022, Mr Birdi made medical history by completing one of the UK’s first quadruple heart bypass entirely through cardiac keyhole surgery.

Tricuspid Heart Valve Replacement

Tricuspid heart valve disease must be diagnosed quickly and treated by experts, which we offer at our London Heart Clinic. A keyhole approach to tricuspid valve repair or replacement can be combined with other associated heart conditions.

Keyhole ASD Closure

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart, causing abnormal blood flow. We offer two closure options, depending on the type and location of the defect: keyhole heart surgery and cardiac catheterisation.

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. There are several minimally invasive treatments, including keyhole AF ablation and the Maze procedure, which aim to restore a normal heart rhythm and reduce symptoms.

Services

Supportive Therapies

01 REHABILITATION

We strongly endorse the need for supervised rehabilitation for all patients who have undergone keyhole heart surgery. Find out more about cardiac rehabilitation after any of our minimally invasive surgeries.

02 NUTRITION &PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Our team of registered dietitians and cardiac nutritional therapists specialise in cardiovascular health. They can work with you directly, before and after your heart surgery. The goal is to address your concerns and support your overall health long-term. Find out more about this heart service centred around.

03 HEART SCREENINGS

Increasingly, doctors are recognising that early diagnosis can often prevent the secondary effects of latent cardiac problems. Our comprehensive heart screenings are designed to detect issues early, helping you take control of your heart health.

FAQs on Keyhole Cardiac Surgery

To find out more about cardiothoracic keyhole surgery, read our answers to the most common questions we get from our patients.

How long does it take to heal after keyhole heart surgery?

Recovery after keyhole heart surgery is much quicker than traditional open heart surgery. Because no bones are broken, most people start feeling better within a few days. Full healing usually takes about two weeks.

In comparison, open heart surgery that involves breaking the breastbone can take up to 12 weeks to heal.

What are the risks of heart keyhole surgery?

While keyhole heart surgery is less invasive, it still carries risks, such as:

bleeding
infection, blood clots
heart attack
stroke
potential damage to surrounding organs.

What are the benefits of keyhole procedures compared to open-heart surgery?

Minimally invasive heart procedures offer several advantages over traditional open heart surgery:

No broken bones: Traditional open heart surgery involves breaking the breastbone, which takes up to 12 weeks to heal. Keyhole procedures avoid this, making small incisions on the side of the chest. This means no broken bones and a much faster recovery.
Smaller scars: These less invasive procedures use a small incision, typically around 3 inches, instead of the standard 12-inch incision associated with open-heart surgery. Procedures, like transcatheter aortic valve implantation, can even be done through the groin, leaving no scar on the chest. This reduces the risk of significant scarring and improves cosmetic results.
Less pain and bleeding: Since the breastbone is left intact, patients experience less bleeding and pain during recovery. This makes the healing process easier and more comfortable.
Lower risk of infection: With no broken bones and smaller wounds, there’s less risk of wound infection or serious complications like bone infection.
Quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay: Most patients undergoing minimally invasive heart procedures can return home sooner and resume normal activities within two weeks. In contrast, recovery from traditional open-heart surgery can take several months.

When performed by an experienced surgeon, keyhole heart surgery is a safe and effective alternative.

Which is better, keyhole or robotic heart surgery?

Both keyhole and robotic heart surgery are minimally invasive procedures, but keyhole heart surgery often comes out ahead.

Consultant cardiac surgeon Mr Birdi notes that keyhole mitral valve repair, performed by hand, still delivers better results than robotic tools. The procedure involves a small incision, causing less trauma and offering a quicker recovery. Robotically assisted heart surgery, while advanced, often takes longer and doesn’t always lead to better outcomes.

A review in ScienceDirect supports this. Robotic surgery is safe and effective, but its success depends heavily on the heart surgeon’s experience. Learning to use the robot well takes time. Advanced medical technology alone doesn’t guarantee better results.

Watch videos from our experts to further understand the treatments and heart conditions we deal with.

Keyhole Heart Clinic: World-Class Cardiac Services in London

At The Keyhole Heart Clinic London, our experienced surgical team always strives to provide world-class cardiac care. From diagnosing your heart condition to providing treatment and specialists during post-operative care, we know how important our heart services are for our patients.

As pioneers of minimally invasive cardiac surgery, we aim to help those who are unsure of a recent diagnosis, or who require a safer and much quicker surgical option that minimises downtime.

We can help you with the following cardiac conditions and provide further insight and advice when you need it:

Those who have experienced these services at The Keyhole Heart Clinic can attest to the world-class, minimally invasive procedures they received – you can read more of their testimonials here.

If you require our expertise and more information on keyhole heart surgery, please contact us at +44 (0)20 8079 7860.