Professional statement
Mr Franco Ciulli is one of the UK's leading consultant cardiothoracic surgeons. He is based in Bristol and operates both at the Spire Hospital Bristol and the Bristol Heart Institute. He has performed over 5000 open heart procedures since being appointed as a consultant almost 30 years ago. Mr Ciulli has extensive experience in a vast range of adult cardiac conditions. He is an expert in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), beating heart surgery (OPCAB) and aortic valve surgery (AVR). He also has a specialist interest in arrhythmia surgery for Atrial Fibrillation and mitral valve repair (MVR).
One of Mr Ciulli's main interests is coronary artery bypass surgery which amounts to 75% of his workload. This is mostly performed with an 'off-pump' or beating heart technique that Mr Ciulli helped develop at the Bristol Heart Institute. Mr Ciulli uses the latest techniques for mitral valve repair. He has vast experience in performing high risk and complex cases that have had had an over 98% survival rate after open-heart surgery. Mr Ciulli acquired much of his knowledge at prestigious centres across the globe in France, Italy, the UK and Australia.
Mr Ciulli is the head of cardiac surgery at the renowned Bristol Heart Institute. He is one of the most senior surgeons in the UK. After completing his medical degree, he undertook further training in cardiovascular surgery at the University of Verona in Italy. Mr Ciulli started working as a cardiothoracic registrar on the Glasgow rotation and the heart and lung transplant registrar at Papworth Hospital in 1990.
He later also undertook a transplant fellowship at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney and was entered onto the GMC specialist register for thoracic and cardiac surgery in 1996. Mr Ciulli's first consultant position was in Sheffield in 1995. He went on to lead the team there that performed the first heart-lung transplant and double lung transplant in 1997. Mr Ciulli also carried out the first minimally invasive mitral valve replacement in 1997 at the northern general hospital in Sheffield.
Since 1999 Mr Ciulli has worked as a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Bristol Heart Institute, which is part of the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Mr Ciulli has held positions of clinical director, clinical governance lead, and is the clinical lead for the adult cardiac surgery unit. Mr Ciulli has been vital in helping bring modern mitral valve repair techniques to the Spire Hospital Bristol and Bristol Heart Institute. Mr Ciulli is an active researcher and has had work published in various peer-reviewed journals as well as the reputable textbook, Moghissi's Essentials of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, also coedited by Mr Ciulli.
Mr Franco Ciulli recently appeared in the film Deep in the Heart, a documentary that follows four patients for several months as they undergo life-saving surgery at the Bristol Heart Institute. The open heart surgeries are actually performed by Mr. Ciulli. and Deep in the Heart can be found on Amazon Prime.
Clinics
Spire Bristol Hospital
Bristol, The Glen, Redland Hill, Redland, Bristol BS6 6UT,Medical insurances accepted
Credentials
Professional experience
- 30 years of experience
- Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Spire Bristol Hospital
Subspecialties
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Coronary Artery Surgery
Professional memberships
- Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons GB & Ireland
- European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Education
- Post Graduate Specialty in Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Verona School of Medicine (1986 - 1991)
- Doctor of Medicine, University of Verona (1980 - 1986)
Positions in organisations
- Clinical Governance Lead, Bristol Heart Institute
- Clinical Director, Bristol Heart Institute
Publications and conferences
- Burns, Daniel J P et al. “Body mass index and early outcomes following mitral valve surgery for degenerative disease.” The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, S0022-5223(19)33118-6. 22 Nov. 2019,
- Chivasso, Pierpaolo et al. “Predictors of survival in octogenarians after mitral valve surgery for degenerative disease: The Mitral Surgery in Octogenarians study.” The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery vol. 155,4 (2018): 1474-1482.e2. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.11.027
Prizes and awards
- Transplant Fellowship, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
Languages spoken
- English
- French
Reviews
- Would you recommend this doctor?
- Treatment of the doctor
- Treatment of the staff
- Waiting time
- Condition of facilities
- From the first meeting with Mr Ciulli I felt at ease He was very informative and explained about my surgery in clear terms Post surgery he visited each day I was in hospital After returning home he was always helpful and answered any concerns I would highly recommend Mr Ciulli
- I initially had an appointment with Mr Ciulli for a second opinion. My husband and I were immediately put at ease by Mr Ciulli's warm manner and he listened to all my concerns and contributing factors and we left feeling reassured we had all the information we required. My decision to pay privately was not easy however I had all my confidence in Mr Ciulli and have remained extremely happy with my decision and in addition I have been able to receive on going support/advice via his secretary.
- Mr Ciulli is an absolutely splendid individual with a genuine interest in his patients, an incredible ability to properly explain the whole procedure and recovery Obviously, I hope never to have the need to repeat the operation, but if I did, he would be my first point of call.
- I am fortunate to have been treated by Mr Ciulli, a very experienced cardiac surgeon with a warm and calm persona. He explains the process very clearly and post surgery visits daily. I highly recommend Mr Ciulli and I’d be first in the queue if I needed more surgery.
- I cannot speak highly enough of Mr Ciulli, the way he supported my wife and I through a difficult and stressful time was exemplary. His patience, kindness and confidence shone through at every consultation. Mr Ciulli is outstanding and highly recommended.
- Mr Ciulli was highly professional and very approachable. I was able to discuss my concerns and given clear information on the interventions required and the benefits. Mr Ciulli is obviously highly regarded by others we met during treatment within his field
- For anyone having to have heart surgery I would most definitely recommend Mr Ciulli , from the outset he was very warm and reassuring and I felt confident that it would all be OK (this is written by a very nervous patient ) he also visited for 5 days post op even on a Sunday whic
- Mr Franco Ciulli provided me with superb care. He was reassuring and warm in his manner and explained every element clearly. He provided plenty of time for questions to be asked. He carried out my surgery superbly and my after care was equally impressive. I HIGHLY recommend him.
- I left my appointment feeling very reasured about the procedures Mr Ciulli had sugested and also feeling that life could be restored to one well worth looking forward to.
- Extremely fortunate to have been under the expert care of Mr Ciulli for my quintuple coronary artery bypass graft. The time he took to explain the procedure, answer questions and reassure me throughout was greatly appreciated and I have no hesitation in recommending Mr Ciulli.