CBC
Maakom Mona El Shazly
Inside cardiac surgery — on the detail of the surgical craft.
Dr Tarek Helmy
Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery — Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University
Three decades in beating-heart cardiac surgery
More than 30 years of practice and over 15,000 cases, built on precision, experience and putting the patient first.
Professor of Cardiothoracic SurgeryKasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University
Head of Cardiothoracic SurgeryAl Salam International Hospital
Doctorate in Cardiothoracic SurgeryEgyptian Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery
30+
Years of experience
15,000+
Cases
Since 1996
Beating-heart surgery
Career and experience
About Prof. Dr Tarek Helmy
A pioneer of beating-heart cardiac surgery in Egypt and the Middle East
The career began in pediatric cardiac surgery at Abu El Rish, refined by years in Japan and Italy. In 1996 he performed his first beating-heart operation; his focus then turned to coronary artery surgery in adults, the field that came to define his practice.
Signature procedure
Beating-heart surgery
Dr Tarek Helmy has performed off-pump, beating-heart coronary bypass surgery since 1996 — approximately 30 years in this field, with a reported success rate reaching 98%.
Recovery after beating-heart surgery may commonly take around two to three weeks, although recovery time varies from one patient to another.
Surgical expertise
Areas of practice
01
Beating-Heart Surgery
Coronary bypass performed while the heart continues to beat, without stopping it and without the heart-lung machine.
02Minimally Invasive Surgery
Surgery through smaller incisions, with careful assessment of whether it suits each individual case.
03Heart Valve Surgery
Repair or replacement of the heart valves, with the approach chosen case by case.
04Cardiac Tumor Surgery
Removal of tumours arising within the heart, in their various forms.
05Aortic Surgery and Aneurysms
Surgical management of aortic disease and aneurysmal dilatation.
06Complex Cases
Extensive experience with complex surgical cases that require careful assessment and detailed planning.
07Thoracic Surgery
Diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases of the lung and chest wall.
Discuss your case with Dr TarekAssessment before decision
Minimally invasive surgery
Surgery through smaller incisions rather than a full sternotomy. The decision depends on the nature of the condition, its diagnosis and the procedure required — not every case is a candidate.
Difficult cases
Complex cases
Extensive experience with complex surgical cases that require careful assessment and detailed planning.
Some cases combine more than one problem at once, follow previous surgery, or come with other conditions that shape the surgical decision. These require unhurried assessment and detailed planning before the operating room.
Real experiences
Life After Heart Surgery
Every patient has their own story, and every case its own circumstances. These are real experiences we are proud of; the right decision for your case begins with assessing it carefully.
Career journey
The stages that shaped the surgeon
- Beginnings
Abu El Rish Children's Hospital
Approximately seven years in pediatric cardiac surgery — the foundation of everything that followed.
- 1989
Japan
One year in Japan.
- 1992 — 1995
Italy
Three years that became a defining stage in the development of his surgical career.
- 1996
Beating-heart surgery
His first off-pump, beating-heart coronary bypass operation — the field that came to define his practice.
- The shift
Adult cardiac surgery
An increasing focus on coronary artery surgery and bypass procedures in adults.
- Today
Head of department
Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Al Salam International Hospital and Professor at Cairo University.
Patient education
Questions patients ask
Direct answers from Dr Tarek Helmy to the questions that come up most often in clinic.
Media archive
Media Appearances
A selection of television interviews, from their original sources.
Al Nahar
Baad El Bedaya
An extended interview on the surgical career.
Al Hayah2021
Bab El Khalq with Mahmoud Saad
On cardiac surgery and the patient experience.
How the work is done
An integrated medical system
Dr Tarek Helmy operates at Al Salam International Hospital — Maadi and New Cairo branches — working with an integrated medical system of five medical teams.
Surgery is not the work of one person. Pre-operative assessment, anaesthesia, intensive care follow-up and rehabilitation after discharge — each stage has its own team.
05
Five medical teams
Maadi branch
Al Salam International Hospital
New Cairo branch
Al Salam International Hospital
From anywhere
Online consultation
Request an initial assessment from any governorate or country, and upload your medical reports before the consultation.
- Echocardiography
- Angiography
- CT scan
- Lab tests
- Previous reports
- Previous surgical reports
An online consultation is not a substitute for emergency care. In an emergency, go immediately to Al Salam International Hospital, at either its Maadi or Tagamoa branch, where Prof. Tarek Helmy’s team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can reach the team at any time on 01006611300.
Clinic hours
Clinics
Governorate visits
Prof. Tarek Helmy visits several governorates on a regular basis, bringing consultation closer to patients and sparing them and their families the travel. Dates for each visit are announced here and on our pages.