Best Cardiac Surgery Hospitals in Spain for International Patients (2026)

Jump to a hospital:

1. Dexeus University Hospital
2. Jiménez Díaz Foundation
3. Quironsalud Madrid
4. Quironsalud Barcelona
5. Quironsalud Arrhythmia Centre
6. Quironsalud Teknon

Spain's best cardiac surgery hospitals combine European-standard care with costs 30 to 60% lower than those in the UK and Germany.

In Madrid and Barcelona, JCI-accredited centres offer bypass surgery, valve replacement, TAVI, and paediatric congenital heart surgery with treatment scheduled within two to 4 weeks of booking.

Private cardiac surgery in the UK costs £20,000 to £40,000. NHS waiting times for elective bypass or valve procedures currently run 6 to 18 months.

Spain offers the same European accreditation, a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London, and significantly lower costs at hospitals that appear in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals rankings.

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This guide covers the best cardiac surgery hospitals in Spain for international patients in 2026: what each hospital specialises in, what procedures cost, and how to take the first step.

What Cardiac Surgery in Spain Actually Costs (2026)

Cardiac surgery at JCI-accredited private hospitals in Spain costs 30 to 60% less than in the UK private sector and significantly less than in Germany. The table below shows verified 2026 cost ranges for the main procedures.

2026 figures. Procedure cost only. See the total trip cost section for the full picture.

Spain offers 30 to 60% savings over UK private cardiac surgery at JCI-accredited centres.

Quironsalud is the largest private hospital group in Europe, operating 58 hospitals across Spain and Germany.

4 of the 6 hospitals in this guide appear in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals rankings for cardiology.

Get a personalised cardiac surgery cost estimate for Spain

Why Choose Spain for Cardiac Surgery?

Most guides on heart surgery abroad focus on India and Turkey. Spain serves a different patient: one who wants European-standard accreditation, a short flight from the UK or GCC, and access to techniques not yet widely available across Europe.

Treatment within weeks, not months

NHS cardiac waiting lists for bypass and valve surgery currently run from 6 to eighteen months. Private care in London costs £20,000 to £40,000. Spain offers JCI-accredited surgery, the same European regulatory framework, and scheduling within two to 4 weeks of confirmed booking.

Clinical techniques not widely available elsewhere in Europe

• Bloodless cardiac surgery (Patient Blood Management) at Teknon, the only centre in Spain offering this across all cardiac procedures
• Off-pump CABG (bypass on a beating heart, without stopping it)
• Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair via the da Vinci system at Quironsalud Barcelona
• TAVI for patients too high-risk for open surgery
• The Ross procedure, replacing a diseased aortic valve with the patient's own pulmonary valve, avoiding lifelong anticoagulation

Europe's largest private hospital group

Quironsalud, following its merger with Fresenius-Helios, is the largest private hospital group in Europe.

That means standardised quality protocols, Arabic-language patient support, multilingual coordinators, and the ability to refer complex cases between group hospitals.

How Were These 6 Hospitals Selected?

Every hospital in this guide was assessed against 4 criteria.

We only feature hospitals where we can receive your inquiry, have your reports reviewed by the specialist team, and coordinate treatment.

• JCI accreditation or equivalent European quality standard, verified
• Appearance in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals cardiology rankings (2024, 2025, or 2026), cited with year and position in each profile
• A specific clinical identity that no other hospital in the list shares
• Active My 1Health referral access, confirmed before inclusion

1. Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain | JCI Gold Seal Accredited | View hospital profile

Dexeus leads this list for one specific reason.

The Barcelona International Heart Centre, directed by Dr Raúl F. Abella, has:

• Performed 10,000+ congenital and paediatric cardiac operations
• 98.2% survival rate across complex cases
• Aristotle's Basic Score average of 8.2, which exceeds the European benchmark.

No other hospital in Spain matches this volume or complexity profile for congenital and paediatric cardiac surgery.

Cardiac specialties and treatments

• Paediatric and congenital heart surgery: 35+ years, 10,000+ operations, 70% of cases with maximum complexity, including Group 4 Aristotle conditions
• Structural heart surgery: hybrid operating theatres for TAVI and MitraClip mitral valve repair
• Bloodless cardiac surgery: open-heart procedures without blood transfusion
• Arrhythmia management: atrial fibrillation ablation, cryoablation, pacemaker implantation, electrophysiological studies

Lead surgeon

Dr Raúl F. Abella- Director, Barcelona International Heart Centre. 10,000+ cardiac operations over 35+ years. Internationally cited for complex congenital heart surgery.

International patient support

A dedicated personal assistant is assigned from the first inquiry, accompanies the patient throughout, and coordinates post-discharge follow-up.

Medical records are accessible online via the My Quirónsalud portal. Multilingual support available.

Best for

Children and adults with congenital heart conditions. Patients requiring TAVI or structural intervention. Patients for whom bloodless surgery is required.

Why international patients choose Dexeus

Families travel specifically from the Middle East, Latin America, and across Europe for the Barcelona International Heart Centre's congenital programme.

The 1:1 doctor-patient model is rare in high-volume cardiac centres.

A personal assistant is assigned from the first inquiry and stays with the patient throughout the entire journey.

For patients and families who need to know they will not be passed between departments, this level of continuity is a defining reason to choose Dexeus.

Enquire about cardiac surgery or a video consultation at Dexeus Barcelona

For paediatric congenital heart cases, see our guide: Paediatric Cardiac Surgery in Spain

2. Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital, Madrid

Madrid, Spain | JCI Accredited | ISO 9001 | EFQM 5 Stars 650+ | Newsweek 2026: #168 globally

Jiménez Díaz Foundation rose 30 positions in the Newsweek World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking to #168 globally, one of the fastest-rising hospitals in the world that year.

It appeared in Newsweek's cardiology rankings in 2024 (#254) and 2025 (#257). In patient satisfaction surveys across Spanish private hospitals, it ranks first in its category.

The Smart Cardiac Surgery Programme

The programme covers

• Beating heart coronary surgery (CABG without stopping the heart)
• Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
• Bloodless cardiac surgery
• Ultra-fast-track recovery where the patient wakes in the operating theatre.

The Cardiac Surgery Unit has performed open-heart surgery on over 5,000 patients and accepts high-risk cases declined by other hospitals.

Cardiac specialties and treatments

• CABG: off-pump beating heart technique, minimally invasive approach
• Valve surgery: mitral valve repair, aortic valve replacement with sutureless valves, Ross procedure
• TAVI and structural interventions: hybrid operating theatre with simultaneous echocardiography, CT, and fluoroscopy overlay
• Cardio-oncology unit for patients with cardiovascular complications from cancer treatment

Best for

High-risk or complex adult cardiac cases. Patients who have been declined elsewhere. GCC patients with international insurance seeking verified European rankings. UK patients who prefer Madrid.

This is one of the very few cardiac surgery units in Spain that will take on high-risk patients who have been declined elsewhere. For patients who have heard the word no from another centre, the Jiménez Díaz Foundation is where that conversation can be reopened.

Enquire about cardiac surgery at Jiménez Díaz Foundation

3. Quironsalud Madrid University Hospital

Madrid, Spain | JCI Accredited | ISO 9001 | Newsweek Cardiology 2025: #244 | 2024: #269

Quironsalud Madrid University Hospital is the largest Quironsalud centre in Spain by patient volume and one of fewer than ten Spanish hospitals to appear in Newsweek's cardiology rankings in consecutive years.

Its cardiac surgery department is built around high-volume adult bypass and valve surgery, led by one of the most published cardiac surgeons in Spain.

Cardiac specialties and treatments

• CABG: high-volume coronary artery bypass grafting, including off-pump CABG on a beating heart
• Valve-sparing root replacement: Dr Forteza Gil's series is among the largest in the world
• Complex aortic surgery: ascending aorta reconstruction, Marfan syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Complex infective endocarditis: cases that many centres decline to operate on

International patient support

Multilingual personalised care with dedicated international patient coordinators. Agreements with leading international insurers. Invitation letters and visa documentation coordinated through My 1Health.

Best for

Adult patients requiring CABG, complex valve surgery, or aortic surgery. Patients who want a surgeon whose volume and peer-reviewed record they can independently verify.

For patients comparing hospitals by surgical volume and published outcomes, Quironsalud Madrid gives them the evidence to make that comparison with confidence.

Enquire about cardiac surgery costs or book a video consultation at Quironsalud Madrid

4. Quironsalud Barcelona — Robotic and Structural Heart Interventions

Barcelona, Spain | JCI Accredited | Barcelona International Hospitals (BIH) Network Member

Quironsalud Barcelona's defining strength is robotic-assisted cardiac surgery and catheter-based structural heart interventions.

It is one of a small number of Spanish centres equipped with the da Vinci robotic surgical system for cardiac procedures, enabling minimally invasive mitral valve repair through keyhole incisions.

The hospital provides Arabic and Russian language support for GCC and Eastern European patients.

Cardiac specialties and treatments

• Robotic cardiac surgery: da Vinci-assisted mitral valve repair with smaller scar, less blood loss, and faster recovery than open surgery
• TAVI: catheter-based aortic valve replacement for high-risk and inoperable patients, performed in a hybrid operating theatre with 3D echocardiography
• Structural heart interventions: ASD and PFO closure, MitraClip, periprosthetic leak closure, congenital defect correction
• 3D echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and coronary CT for a complete in-house diagnostic assessment

International patient support

Arabic and Russian language support alongside English and Spanish. Member of the Barcelona International Hospitals network, providing structured international patient intake, insurance coordination, and multilingual support.

Best for

Patients who are candidates for robotic or minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Patients requiring TAVI in Barcelona. GCC patients who need Arabic-language support.

Why international patients choose Quironsalud Barcelona

The da Vinci robotic system for cardiac surgery is available at very few centres in Spain. For patients who qualify for robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, the difference in recovery is clinically meaningful: smaller incisions, shorter ICU stays, and a faster return to normal life. Arabic-language support is built into the patient pathway, not offered as an afterthought. For GCC patients who want European care without the language barrier that often comes with it, Quironsalud Barcelona's BIH network membership and multilingual infrastructure make it the most practical choice in Barcelona.

Ask about robotic cardiac surgery or TAVI at Quironsalud Barcelona

5. Quironsalud Barcelona Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Centre 

Not every cardiac patient needs open surgery. A growing proportion of international patients travelling to Spain for heart treatment come specifically for arrhythmia management: atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, ventricular tachycardia, complex pacemaker or ICD implantation, or rare rhythm disorders. Several Quironsalud Barcelona centres perform the highest volume of AF ablation procedures in Spain, exceeding many public cardiac centres by annual case count.

Cardiac specialties and treatments

• Atrial fibrillation ablation: radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, including complex cases and redo ablation after previous failures
• Ventricular tachycardia ablation with 3D electro-anatomical substrate mapping
• Pacemaker, ICD, and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) implantation
• Subcutaneous ICD and long-term Holter monitoring for unexplained syncope

Best for

Patients with AF seeking catheter ablation. Complex arrhythmia referrals. Pacemaker, ICD, or CRT implantation. Patients with unexplained syncope.

Why international patients choose this centre

Brugada syndrome is named after the lead clinician's family. That is not a marketing claim; it is a measure of how deeply the clinical team here has shaped the global understanding of sudden cardiac death from rhythm disorders. The 3D electro-anatomical mapping technology used here reduces radiation exposure and improves ablation precision. For patients who have already had an ablation that did not work, or who have been told their arrhythmia is too complex for standard centres, this is where that assessment can be revisited.

Enquire about atrial fibrillation ablation or arrhythmia treatment in Barcelona

6. Quironsalud Teknon (Centro Médico Teknon), Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain | JCI Accredited (6 times) | Newsweek World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026

Teknon has two capabilities that are genuinely rare in European cardiac surgery. It is the only centre in Spain to offer a complete Patient Blood Management service across all cardiac procedures, however complex. And it is home to one of the world's leading specialists in the Ross procedure. JCI has accredited Teknon 6 consecutive times. The hospital has treated 700,000+ patients from 70 countries.

Cardiac specialties and treatments

• Bloodless cardiac surgery (Patient Blood Management): the only Spanish hospital offering this across all cardiac specialties, including complex open-heart surgery
• Ross procedure: replacing a diseased aortic valve with the patient's own pulmonary valve, producing a living valve with no need for lifelong anticoagulation
• Valve repair over replacement: surgical philosophy to preserve the patient's own valve wherever anatomy allows
• Off-pump CABG: beating heart coronary bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass
• Hybrid operating theatre, three haemodynamics rooms, semi-critical care unit, and 24-hour cardiac emergency service

Conditions treated

Coronary artery disease, aortic valve disease, mitral valve disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure, aortic aneurysm, structural heart disease, and congenital abnormalities in adults.

Best for

Patients who cannot receive blood transfusions. Younger patients with aortic valve disease who want to avoid lifelong blood thinners. Complex valve repair cases. Patients referred for procedures to other centres have declined.

Why international patients choose Teknon

JCI has accredited Teknon 6 consecutive times. Each accreditation requires passing over 1,200 patient safety and clinical quality standards.

Teknon is also the only centre in Spain where a patient who cannot receive blood transfusions can undergo any level of cardiac surgery.

For those patients, there is no alternative in Spain. And for patients who want the Ross procedure performed by a surgeon whose volume and international standing put him among the top specialists in the world for that specific technique, Teknon is where they need to be.

Ask about the Ross procedure, bloodless surgery, or a cardiac surgery cost estimate at Teknon

 Spain Cardiac Surgery Hospitals Compared: Which Is Right for You?

What Does Heart Surgery in Spain Cost in Total? (2026)

The surgery cost is one number. The real number is different. In our experience coordinating cardiac cases to Spain, we see a consistent gap between what patients budget and what they actually spend.

For UK patients (London to Madrid or Barcelona)

• Return flights: £200 to £500
• Accommodation near hospital, 14 to 21 nights including recovery: €1,500 to €3,500
• Companion accommodation if separate: €800 to €1,800 for 14 to 21 nights
• Pre-operative tests, if not bundled in the surgical package: €500 to €1,500
• Post-operative medications, first 4 to 6 weeks: €200 to €600
• Ground transport in the city: €300 to €600
• Follow-up consultation, remote or in-person at 6 to 8 weeks: €200 to €400

Realistic total above the surgery figure: £3,500 to £8,500. For a CABG at €17,000, the all-in figure is €20,000 to €26,000. Against a UK private quote of £25,000 to £35,000, the saving remains substantial.

For GCC patients (Dubai or Riyadh to Madrid or Barcelona)

• Return flights, direct Emirates, Iberia, or Vueling: AED 3,000 to 7,000 (€750 to €1,750)
• Accommodation, hotel or apartment, 14 to 21 nights: €2,000 to €5,000
• Companion and family accommodation: €1,500 to €4,000 for 14 to 21 nights
• Pre-operative diagnostics, if required in Spain: €800 to €2,000
• Post-operative medications: €300 to €800

Realistic total above the surgery figure: €5,000 to €13,000.

What is not included

Flights. Accommodation. Companion costs. Pre-operative tests ordered after arrival. Extended recovery stays beyond the quoted inpatient period. Any unplanned complications requiring extended ICU admission. Return travel for in-person follow-up.

My 1Health provides a total cost estimate covering all of the above, not just the surgery. Use our health cost calculator at my1health.com to build your full budget before any commitment.

Get a full treatment and trip cost estimate for cardiac surgery in Spain

How to Arrange Cardiac Surgery in Spain Through My 1Health

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Related reading: Heart Surgery Hospitals in Europe | Heart Care at Cromwell Hospital UK (for UK patients comparing private options)