Our services
We deliver the highest levels of surgical care and post-operative follow-up for heart disease patients requiring specialized surgical procedures, for example heart valve surgery or coronary artery bypass surgery. Cardiac surgery is usually performed using a heart-lung machine, which temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery to circulate blood and oxygen around the body.
Main surgical procedures
- coronary artery bypass surgery
- aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve repair and replacement surgery
- ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement surgery
- surgical closure of atrial septal defects
- removal of malignant and benign cardiac tumors
Minimally-invasive surgery
We also perform minimally-invasive, video-assisted thoracic surgery. This innovative approach means that we can make very small incisions between the ribs to treat some heart conditions, instead of making a larger incision in the middle of the chest and spreading the ribs apart.
This technique offers extensive benefits for our patients, including:
- faster recovery
- less pain
- fewer blood transfusions
- aesthetically pleasing results with reduced scarring
When do I make an appointment?
Cardiac surgery is a highly-specialized surgical field. In most cases, your primary care physician or cardiologist will advise you to make an appointment with a heart surgeon.
Why choose Hôpital de La Tour?
Multidisciplinary and comprehensive care
Patients benefit from the expertise of our on-site specialists to ensure the best possible care for their medical condition and health.
We work closely with specialists from a wide range of fields, including:
Cancer patients will be looked after by a multidisciplinary team of oncologists and radiotherapists who will carefully review patient cases in order to establish the most appropriate treatment plan.
Care from the Heart Team
In some complex cases, including patients with heart valve disease, the most appropriate treatment is decided by a group of medical professionals known as the Heart Team. This multidisciplinary meeting brings together highly-experienced specialists, including heart surgeons, cardiologists, anesthetists and intensivists, to review the various treatment options available depending on the patient's condition.
Comprehensive, state-of-the-art facilities and competent medical teams
Hôpital de La Tour is proud to offer the latest facilities and technology alongside medical, surgical and anesthetic teams with high levels of expertise and renowned experience in the field of cardiac surgery.
The Cardio-Tour rehabilitation plan
Hôpital de La Tour offers a specialized cardiovascular rehabilitation plan for comprehensive care of your heart health: Cardio-Tour.
Intensive and progressive care units
Our cutting-edge intensive and cardiopulmonary progressive care units mean that our highly-skilled surgeons can perform cardiac surgery for critical cases requiring immediate post-operative intensive care.
International patients : easier access to specialized care in Switzerland
Quick access to emergency heart surgery in Switzerland
In many countries, patients requiring surgery face long waiting times. To avoid delays that could be detrimental to their health, national healthcare authorities sometimes allow patients to seek treatment abroad.
This is done using form S2 (formerly known as E112), an official authorization that must be validated by your national healthcare service before you leave. This is done using the S2 form (formerly known as E112), an official authorization that must be validated by your national health service before your departure.
Once approved, coverage is provided by the local healthcare system, and the patient pays only the same financial contribution as a local patient.
Hôpital de La Tour in Switzerland is authorized to accept patients awaiting heart surgery through the S2 form and offers rapid access to advanced cardiac procedures in a safe and welcoming environment.
If you live abroad and are facing a long waiting list, you may be able to receive your treatment in Switzerland under the S2 scheme.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for the S2 form if:
The required treatment is offered by the local healthcare system, but the waiting times are excessively long.
The required treatment is available in the Swiss public healthcare system.
Your specialist confirms that rapid treatment abroad is necessary.
How to access treatment at Hôpital de La Tour?
- Discuss it with your doctor – ask if an S2 form application is appropriate for your situation.
- Submit your S2 application to your local health authority.
- Receive approval – you will be issued with an official S2 certificate.
- Contact our International Patient Service. Our team can provide all the necessary documents (treatment plan, quote, confirmation of acceptance of the S2 form) to include in your application.