Maria Cecilia Hospital

Maria Cecilia Hospital is one of Italy's leading cardiovascular centers of excellence, located in Cotignola in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. Founded in 1973, the hospital is part of the GVM Care & Research group, one of Italy's largest private healthcare networks with 29 hospitals across Italy and Europe. With 250 beds and a specialized focus on cardiovascular medicine, Maria Cecilia Hospital has earned an international reputation for cardiac care, performing some of the most complex cardiovascular procedures in Italy. The hospital holds JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation, confirming adherence to the highest international standards of patient safety, clinical quality, and healthcare governance. Maria Cecilia is also designated as an IRCCS for cardiovascular research, reflecting its commitment to advancing cardiac medicine through clinical research. Cardiac Sciences are the cornerstone of Maria Cecilia Hospital, with comprehensive cardiovascular services spanning diagnostics, interventional procedures, surgery, and rehabilitation. The hospital's cardiac teams perform thousands of cardiac procedures annually, with outcomes that meet or exceed international benchmarks. Interventional Cardiology provides a full range of catheter-based cardiovascular procedures including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting, chronic total occlusion (CTO) procedures, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), MitraClip for mitral valve repair, left atrial appendage closure, atrial septal defect closure, and coronary atherectomy. The hospital operates state-of-the-art catheterization laboratories with advanced hemodynamic monitoring and imaging systems. Cardiothoracic Surgery at Maria Cecilia includes coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), heart valve repair and replacement (including minimally invasive and sutureless valve techniques), aortic surgery (ascending aorta, aortic arch, and thoracoabdominal aorta), minimally invasive cardiac surgery through small incisions, and combined cardiac and vascular procedures. The surgical team is nationally recognized for complex valve surgery and aortic procedures. Robotic Surgery using the Da Vinci system is utilized for cardiac procedures including mitral valve repair, and extends to thoracic, urological, and general surgical procedures, providing patients with minimally invasive surgical options. Electrophysiology services include catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, implantation of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, and leadless pacemaker technology. Vascular Surgery addresses peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysms (both open and endovascular repair), deep vein thrombosis, and varicose veins. Heart Failure management includes medical optimization, mechanical circulatory support with ventricular assist devices, and coordination with heart transplant centers for patients requiring transplantation. Cardiac Rehabilitation provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs for patients recovering from cardiac surgery, heart attacks, heart failure, and other cardiac conditions. The program includes supervised exercise, nutritional counseling, psychological support, and risk factor modification. Neurosciences services include neurology and neurosurgical capabilities for conditions related to cerebrovascular disease, working in close coordination with the cardiovascular teams. Bariatric Surgery includes metabolic surgery procedures for patients with obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors. International patients benefit from Maria Cecilia Hospital's dedicated patient coordination services, with support in English and other languages. The hospital's location in Emilia-Romagna provides a peaceful recovery environment in one of Italy's most culturally rich and gastronomically celebrated regions. Treatment costs for cardiac procedures at Maria Cecilia are typically 40-60% lower than equivalent care in the United States or Northern Europe. Maria Cecilia Hospital is located in Cotignola, approximately 75 minutes from Bologna Airport and 2 hours from Florence.