Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Ofer Merimsky
41 years of experience
accreditations :
Clinic is certified :
| Israel | Turkey | Austria | |
| Therapeutic Apheresis | ≈ $1,400 | ≈ $450 | ≈ $1,800 |
| LDL Apheresis | ≈ $1,600 | ≈ $450 | ≈ $1,100 |
Prof. Levi Yehuda brings nearly 28 years of cardiovascular expertise, with extensive practice in diagnosing and treating atherosclerosis and related conditions at Sourasky Medical Center.
Director of the Structural Heart Disease Service at Tel Aviv Medical Center – Dr. Amir specializes in advanced interventional cardiology techniques.
Leads the echocardiography department at Tel Aviv's Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), specializing in advanced heart disease diagnostics. She trained in cardiology at a premier center in London.
Dr. Gideon Uretzky is a leading cardiac surgeon specializing in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and cardiac rehabilitation at Sourasky Medical Center.
Israel is highly safe for atherosclerosis treatment. Major centers maintain Joint Commission International accreditation and exceptional survival rates. Procedures like coronary angiography report complication rates near 0%. Specialists often hold US or European training. Facilities like Sourasky and Assuta use advanced drug-eluting stents and digital imaging.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli cardiology safety is driven by massive patient volumes at academic centers. Schools like Hadassah and Rambam treat nearly 1,000,000 patients yearly. This high frequency allows surgeons to master complex interventions like TAVI or stentless valve repairs. This volume-based expertise often leads to better outcomes in rare or difficult cases.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that doctors speak excellent English and prioritize clear communication. Many emphasize the importance of confirming a surgeon's specific case volume before proceeding with complex stenting.
Israeli hospitals like Hadassah and Sourasky specialize in atherosclerosis through dedicated research and treatment centers. Doctors there are board-certified specialists. They often hold international fellowships from institutions like Oxford or Cedars-Sinai. Many serve as university professors with extensive research backgrounds.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli cardiology stands out because leading specialists often hold dual certifications and academic roles. For example, Dr. Arbel Yaron at Sourasky is board-certified in both internal medicine and cardiology. This multi-layered expertise is common across top facilities. It ensures complex atherosclerosis cases receive comprehensive care rather than just surgical intervention.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli specialists often provide complication-free recoveries for procedures that doctors elsewhere considered high-risk. They frequently highlight the blend of military-grade precision and advanced plaque imaging available in Haifa and Tel Aviv.
International patients in Israel access advanced atherosclerosis technologies, including therapeutic apheresis and LDL apheresis for lipid management. Leading centers utilize AI-driven digital imaging and robotic surgery. Specialized diagnostics like 3D intravascular ultrasound and fractional flow reserve guide precise stent placement. Most facilities maintain JCI accreditation and provide telemedicine support.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli cardiology departments demonstrate a unique pattern of combining academic research with clinical practice. For instance, Dr. Kramer Amir at Sourasky Medical Center brings over 30+ years of experience and specialized training from multiple European centers into his practice. This density of global expertise means patients often receive treatment protocols, such as specific stentless heart valve techniques, that are only available at select high-volume university hospitals worldwide.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that advanced tools like shockwave lithotripsy are often more accessible in Israel than in their home countries. They emphasize that English-speaking staff and organized international protocols make the transition to these high-tech treatments feel seamless.
Atherosclerosis treatment in Israel results in minimal scarring through advanced catheter-based and endoscopic techniques. Traditional surgery leaves narrow lines that fade over 12 months. Catheterization entry points usually heal into tiny pinhole marks. Specialized laser centers at Israeli hospitals help reduce any permanent visibility.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli specialists like Dr. Kramer Amir at Sourasky Medical Center focus on minimally invasive MIDCAB and stentless valve techniques. These methods are common at centers with high surgical volumes like Assuta, which performs 92,000 operations annually. Patients benefit from this high-frequency expertise because surgeons frequently use closure devices like Angio-Seal to ensure puncture sites heal smoothly.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that radial wrist access for catheterization is almost invisible and heals faster than groin sites. Those who undergo bypass surgery mention that 6-inch harvest scars often fade into thin, pale lines after two years with consistent silicone sheet use.
Treatment for atherosclerosis in Israel usually requires a stay of 3 to 14 days. Travel timelines depend on the procedure complexity and surgeon approval. Patients often fly home 2 to 7 days after minimally invasive stenting. Open-heart surgery requires 3 to 4 weeks before flying.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from top-rated centers like Sourasky and Assuta shows that radial access is the standard for speeding up recovery. Patients choosing this approach often leave the hospital within 24 hours. Because these clinics serve over 1,000,000 patients annually, they have streamlined protocols for international discharge. Always confirm your follow-up schedule before booking return flights to ensure all diagnostic checks are complete.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that radial access significantly shortens the wait to fly compared to femoral access. Many emphasize staying extra days for follow-ups and using compression stockings during the flight home.
Patients with active endocarditis or internal bleeding are usually not candidates for catheter-based therapy in Israel. Severe anatomical constraints like inadequate artery access or calcified valves also prevent this approach. Specialist heart teams at centers like Sourasky Medical Center prioritize surgical alternatives for younger patients.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli centers like Sourasky Medical Center and Assuta use multidisciplinary Heart Teams to determine eligibility. While private clinics like Assuta offer faster scheduling for innovative techniques like VenaSeal, academic centers like Sourasky handle complex cases where catheter-based tools like MICRA are used only if traditional pacing is medically impossible.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli doctors are very conservative about safety. They emphasize that if a surgeon suggests open surgery over a catheter, it is usually because the anatomy makes the minimally invasive route too risky for long-term health.
Top Israeli hospitals provide 24/7 internal language support and advanced telemedicine for remote follow-up. Facilities like Sourasky Medical Center and Hadassah use Electronic Health Records to track progress. International patients receive digital imaging and tailored discharge summaries to ensure safe recovery once they return home.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli medical centers like Sourasky and Hadassah treat over 1,000,000 patients every year. Our data shows these high-volume centers integrate Electronic Health Records with remote monitoring. This makes virtual follow-ups more accurate than at smaller clinics. Patients should confirm a telemedicine schedule before flying home to ensure seamless continuity.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while English is common during stays, documents may arrive in Hebrew. They recommend visiting the international department to secure translated medication labels before leaving the hospital.
Israel is a premier neurosurgery hub due to its fusion of high-density medical innovation and elite surgical expertise. Top facilities like Sheba Medical Center integrate AI-guided navigation and real-time intraoperative MRI. Specialized centers report 98% success rates for complex procedures including awake craniotomy and movement disorder treatments.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows a clear divide between public and private options in Israel. Private centers like Assuta Medical Center perform over 92,000 operations annually and allow patients to select their specific lead surgeon. This is a vital advantage for complex cases where a specific expert like Dr. Eli Ashkenazi is preferred for his 1,000+ spine surgery record.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize bringing original imaging on a USB for local review to streamline the surgical plan. They also note that private packages often include hotel coordination and airport transfers, making the logistics much smoother.
Israeli neurosurgeons treat a full spectrum of conditions ranging from brain and spinal tumors to complex functional disorders. Specialized centers utilize advanced technologies like Gamma Knife, deep brain stimulation, and intraoperative MRI to manage epilepsy, Parkinson disease, and cerebrovascular pathologies with high precision.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli hospitals often combine specialties to handle complex cases. At Sourasky Medical Center, neurosurgeons like Dr. Zvi Lidar bridge neurosurgery and orthopedics for spinal care. This multidisciplinary approach allows clinics to perform 34,000+ operations annually. Choosing a facility with this crossover expertise often leads to more comprehensive treatment plans for degenerative diseases.
Patient Consensus: Patients value the ability to access specialized treatments like fluorescence-guided surgery for tumors which are often unavailable elsewhere. Many note that the staff is fluent in English and provides clear communication through teleconsultations before traveling.
Israel is home to world-renowned neurosurgery centers like Sourasky Medical Center, Sheba Medical Center, and Hadassah Medical Center. These facilities are globally ranked for treating complex brain tumors, spinal disorders, and movement diseases. They utilize advanced technologies like Gamma Knife, robotic systems, and intra-operative MRI.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that while most patients focus on Tel Aviv, Rambam Medical Center in Haifa offers unique expertise in neuro-trauma. It operates a specialized neuro-ICU and serves nearly 1 million patients annually. This makes it an essential choice for complex post-trauma brain surgeries that requires intensive recovery support.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to start consultations early. They often highlight that the precision and follow-up care for complex brain tumors exceeded their expectations. One patient emphasized how quickly they could connect with top professors for second opinions during critical neurosurgical cases.
Israel's leading neurosurgeons include Prof. Zvi Ram, Prof. Shlomi Constantini, and Prof. Itzhak Fried at Sourasky Medical Center. These specialists hold leadership roles in the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN). They utilize advanced intraoperative mapping and robotic systems.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky and Sheba indicates a strong correlation between high surgical volumes and patient safety. For example, Sourasky performs 34,000+ operations annually with a 90% oncology success rate. Patients seeking complex tumor removals should prioritize centers like these where surgeons perform hundreds of specific cases each year.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the importance of finding a surgeon who specializes specifically in your condition rather than a generalist. Many note that high-volume centers provide better access to English-speaking staff and coordinated care for international visitors.
International neurosurgery patients in Israel must provide comprehensive medical records including recent MRI or CT scans translated into English. Admission requires a clinical review by specialists to confirm treatment feasibility. Hospitals often mandate full advance payment or a significant deposit before confirming surgery dates or issuing visa support letters.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that top Israeli facilities like Sheba Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center handle massive patient volumes, exceeding 1,000,000 people annually. This high demand means clinics prioritize complex or rare cases over routine procedures. Patients with unique or high-risk conditions often receive faster admission approval than those seeking standard treatments available elsewhere.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that having all imaging results ready in English is essential for quick scheduling. Many emphasize that while the medical care is excellent, coordinating around Shabbat closures is necessary to avoid unexpected diagnostic delays.
A standard stay for neurosurgery in Israel ranges from 10 to 14 days for uncomplicated cases. Patients undergoing complex procedures like brain tumor removal or deep brain stimulation often require 4 to 6 weeks. This timeline covers pre-operative diagnostics, the surgical procedure, and essential post-operative monitoring.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data from Sourasky Medical Center shows they treat over 400,000 patients annually with high success rates. Clinics with such high volumes, like Hadassah or Assuta, often have streamlined discharge protocols. This helps international patients transition to hotel-based recovery faster while maintaining access to top specialists.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is vital not to rush home too early. Some travelers extended their stay to 3 weeks due to swelling or to ensure they received final surgeon clearance before flying.
Israeli neurosurgery uses robotic guidance, real-time 3D imaging, and incisionless technologies to minimize physical trauma. Systems like Mazor Robotics provide sub-millimeter precision for spine implants. MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treats tremors without incisions. These advanced tools ensure high accuracy and reduce recovery times.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli clinics like Sourasky or Hadassah integrate proprietary Israeli-born technologies like Surgical Theater before they hit global markets. Our data shows these centers often use VR flight-through models for pre-surgical planning. This allows surgeons to rehearse complex cases, which is a key factor in their 90% success rates.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that technologies like the Gamma Knife allowed them to return home in days rather than weeks. Many move from traditional 10cm incisions to cuts under 2cm when using robotic-assisted systems.
Israel is a global leader in neurosurgery due to its integration of proprietary medical innovations and internationally trained specialists. High-capacity centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) perform over 34,000 annual surgeries. Patients access advanced techniques like awake craniotomy and MR-guided focused ultrasound.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgery stands out because of the high concentration of dually certified experts. Many top surgeons, such as Dr. Zvi Lidar, are certified to practice in both Israel and the USA. This ensures that patients receive American-standard surgical care while staying in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Our data shows that private centers like Assuta offer significantly faster access to these specific specialists compared to the public system.
Patient Consensus: Patients note it is important to confirm a surgeon's specific volume of cases for your exact condition. They also value the ability to get expert second opinions quickly through online consultations with world-renowned professors.
Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) are among the best neurosurgery hospitals in Israel. These JCI-accredited facilities perform thousands of operations annually. They utilize advanced technologies like CyberKnife and intraoperative MRI to treat complex brain tumors and cerebrovascular lesions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top Israeli centers like Sourasky and Hadassah perform over 40,000 total operations yearly. This high volume allows surgeons to maintain a 90% success rate even in complex oncology cases. Patients seeking robotic spine surgery or deep brain stimulation should focus on these high-capacity municipal centers for the most experienced teams.
Patient Consensus: Patients appreciate that some hospitals quickly coordinate consultations even during regional strikes. Families of pediatric patients especially value surgeons trained at prestigious international institutions.
Israel's leading neurosurgeons include Professor Zvi Ram, Professor Shlomi Constantini, and Professor Itzhak Fried at Sourasky Medical Center. These experts specialize in awake craniotomy, pediatric brain tumors, and functional mapping. Most hold JCI accreditation and international fellowships from institutions like Johns Hopkins and Yale.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that top-tier Israeli neurosurgeons, such as those at Sourasky Medical Center, often hold dual board certifications in Israel and the US. This unique crossover ensures patients receive American-standard protocols. These specialists typically manage over 34,000 annual operations, providing high-volume clinical experience that smaller private clinics cannot match.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that highly qualified doctors like Professor Shlomo Constantini provide satisfactory answers quickly. People emphasize that outcomes often depend on the hospital’s integrated resources rather than just a doctor's prestige.
Israel is a global leader in neurosurgery, treating complex brain and spinal conditions using robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques. Highly specialized units at JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) and Hadassah Medical Center focus on neuro-oncology, pediatric neurosurgery, and functional procedures.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli neurosurgical departments often function as rapid-response hubs for international patients. Data shows that large centers like Sourasky, which serves 1,800,000 patients annually, can organize expert video consultations in a very short time. This speed is critical for neuro-oncology cases where starting treatment a few days earlier significantly impacts outcomes.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Israeli teams often accept high-risk cases that other hospitals decline. They emphasize the importance of using local coordinators to manage travel logistics or potential local disruptions during their two-week stay.
International patients traveling to Israel for neurosurgery require a valid passport, an entry permit or medical visa, and a formal hospital invitation. You must provide recent MRI or CT scans in DICOM format and detailed medical summaries. Proof of private health insurance and financial stability are also mandatory for border entry.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Our data shows that top neurosurgeons at Hadassah Medical Center and Sourasky often request records 4–6 weeks before arrival. Submitting these early prevents appointment shifts. High-volume centers with over 30,000 annual operations have dedicated portals for secure DICOM file uploads. Using these ensures your surgeon reviews high-quality images before you land in Tel Aviv.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize bringing physical copies and digital backups of all scans on a USB drive. They also note that private insurance needs pre-authorization specifically for neurosurgery to avoid payment delays at the clinic.