Fundación Cardioinfantil – Instituto de Cardiología: International Patient Guide

Fundación Cardioinfantil – Instituto de Cardiología is Bogotá's premier cardiac specialty hospital and one of the most respected cardiovascular centers in Latin America. JCI-accredited and deeply specialized, it draws patients from across the Americas for procedures that would carry six-figure price tags in the United States.

About Fundación Cardioinfantil

Founded in 1973, Cardioinfantil began as a pediatric cardiac center — one of the first in Colombia dedicated to treating congenital heart defects in children. Over five decades, it has expanded into a full-spectrum cardiovascular institution serving patients of all ages while maintaining its pediatric cardiology roots. The hospital operates over 600 beds across a modern campus in northern Bogotá.

As a teaching hospital affiliated with the Universidad del Rosario, Cardioinfantil combines clinical excellence with active research and physician training programs that attract some of Colombia's top medical talent.

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Expertise

This is where Cardioinfantil truly distinguishes itself. The hospital performs thousands of cardiac procedures annually, including:

• Open-heart surgery: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve replacement and repair (mechanical and biological), and complex multi-valve procedures.
• Interventional cardiology: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI/stenting), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and structural heart interventions.
• Electrophysiology: Catheter ablation for arrhythmias, pacemaker and ICD implantation, and advanced mapping systems.
• Pediatric cardiac surgery: The hospital's founding specialty — complex congenital heart defect repair in neonates, infants, and children.
• Heart transplantation: An active transplant program with outcomes benchmarked against international standards.

The cardiac surgery teams operate in hybrid ORs equipped with advanced imaging, allowing minimally invasive and catheter-based approaches when appropriate. Volume matters in cardiac surgery — and Cardioinfantil's case volume places it among the busiest cardiac programs in Latin America.

Beyond Cardiology

While cardiac care is the hospital's identity, Cardioinfantil has developed strong programs in general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and oncology. International patients seeking non-cardiac procedures benefit from the same JCI-accredited infrastructure and operational standards that define the cardiac program.

International Patient Services

Cardioinfantil's international patient department assists foreign patients with clinical referrals, cost estimates, scheduling, and logistics coordination. The department can arrange interpreter services, help coordinate medical record transfers, and connect patients with vetted lodging options near the hospital campus.

For cardiac patients, the hospital typically requires submission of recent imaging (echocardiograms, catheterization reports, CT angiography) before providing a clinical opinion and treatment plan. This remote review process allows patients to understand their options before committing to travel.

Cost Expectations

Cardiac procedures at Cardioinfantil typically cost 50–75% less than equivalent procedures in US hospitals. As a rough guide based on typical 2026 ranges: coronary artery bypass surgery that might bill $150,000–$250,000 in the US could fall in the $25,000–$45,000 range in Colombia, inclusive of hospitalization. Valve replacement procedures show similar proportional savings. All estimates are approximate and vary based on clinical complexity, length of stay, and implant choices — the hospital provides detailed, itemized quotes after reviewing your clinical records.

Bogotá Logistics

Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport (BOG) receives direct flights from Miami, Houston, New York, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles, among other US cities. The hospital campus in the Usaquén/northern Bogotá area is roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the airport, depending on traffic.

The Zona Rosa and Usaquén neighborhoods near the hospital offer a wide range of hotels and furnished apartments suitable for recovery stays, with walkable restaurants, pharmacies, and amenities.

Altitude Considerations

Bogotá sits at approximately 2,640 meters (8,660 feet) above sea level. For cardiac patients, this is a clinically relevant factor — altitude affects oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and cardiac workload. Cardioinfantil's physicians are expert in managing these variables, and the hospital's oxygen delivery and monitoring protocols account for altitude effects routinely. However, patients with severe heart failure or significant pulmonary disease should discuss altitude considerations with their referring physician before committing to Bogotá-based care.