Mr Paul Modi

Mr Paul Modi is a world-leading consultant cardiac surgeon who specialises in minimally invasive and robotic mitral valve and atrial fibrillation surgery, robotic and off pump coronary artery bypass surgery and minimally invasive myxoma surgery. He is one of only a small number of surgeons in the UK who performs minimally invasive mitral valve and atrial fibrillation surgery and is currently the only British heart surgeon performing robotic mitral valve repair and robot-assisted coronary artery surgery. He was the first surgeon in the UK to perform totally endoscopic robotic mitral valve repair.

Paul was trained in Cardiothoracic Surgery in the UK and then spent 12 months as a Clinical Instructor (consultant) in the US working alongside Dr Randolph Chitwood Jr at East Carolina Heart Institute learning the techniques of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac valvular surgery and atrial fibrillation surgery. Dr Chitwood was the original pioneer for the use of the Da Vinci robot in cardiac surgery.

This is where Paul really developed his passion for keyhole heart surgery because it was immediately obvious to him how much quicker patients recovered compared to conventional sternotomy surgery where the front of the chest is opened.

He was then awarded two scholarships, one of them the prestigious Society Scholarship for Cardiac Surgery, to train with the two European pioneers of minimally invasive cardiac surgery: Prof Fred Mohr in Leipzig Germany and Prof Hugo Vanermen in Aalst Belgium.

He went on to do further super-specialist training in minimally invasive valve and coronary surgery (MIDCABs) and thoracoscopic AF surgery in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.

On returning to the UK, Mr Modi brought many of the pioneering techniques he had learned overseas back to the NHS. Mr Modi is a consultant cardiac surgeon at the second largest specialist centre for cardiac and thoracic surgery in the UK, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where almost 2000 open-heart surgeries are performed per year.

He is the senior mitral valve surgeon and performs 3-6 mitral valve procedures every week, with a repair rate of over 96% for all degenerative valves.

His philosophy is to provide the same surgical excellence to his patients as those treated in the major North American and German centres, such as the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. Mr Modi also teaches surgical skills and basic sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and trains other consultants on best teaching practices. Mr Modi practices both in the NHS and privately.

Mr Modi has appeared live on the BBC One Show who filmed him operating on a patient undergoing keyhole mitral valve repair. This patient was back on the golf course 3 weeks later! In ladies the cosmetic result is superb and leaves virtually no visible scarring as the incision is hidden under the right breast.

Mr Modi has edited 4 textbooks, published over 55 manuscripts in peer-reviewed surgical journals, and has written 3 book chapters. He has published extensively on the benefits of minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Patient Testimonials:

"Paul Modi is a truly remarkable doctor not only as a skilled surgeon but also his interpersonal skills in dealing with patients and inspiring total confidence"

"I felt an instant trust in Mr Paul Modi and was happy to place myself in his very capable hands for my triple heart bypass. His care and devotion were exceptional."Referred to Mr Modi for a mitral valve repair.

"Exceptional throughout undertook minimal invasive surgery. An exceptional surgeon would recommend in a heartbeat"