Dr. Rahul Rao

Dr Rahul Rao is a highly skilled cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon in Bangalore with 19 years of clinical experience in complex cardiac surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and advanced valve and coronary procedures.

Holding a DNB in Cardiothoracic Surgery from the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi and a PG Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC) from Indira Gandhi National Open University, and a member of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS, Membership No. L20232096).

Dr Rahul Rao currently serves as Associate Consultant in Cardiac Surgery at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bommasandra, Bangalore one of India's highest-volume cardiac surgery centres.

Recipient of the Best Outgoing Resident in Cardiology Award at St John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, he brings rare depth in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS), complex CABG, advanced valve surgery with rhythm restoration, and robotic cardiac surgery to his practice.

Patients searching for a trusted heart surgeon in Bangalore, expert minimally invasive cardiac surgery in Bangalore, or advanced valve surgery in Bangalore will find in Dr Rahul Rao a surgeon of proven technical excellence and genuine patient focus.

He consults in English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali.

Specialty Areas and Treatments

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) in Bangalore

Dr Rahul Rao has a strong subspecialty focus on Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, routinely performing complex procedures through smaller incisions to reduce patient trauma, pain, and recovery time:

• MICS CABG (Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting)
• Minimally Invasive Hemisternotomy Aortic Valve Replacement (Mini AVR)
• Right Axillary Thoracotomy Mitral Valve Replacement
• Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery for mitral and aortic pathology
• Thoracotomy-based approaches for valve surgery with sternum preservation

Coronary Artery Surgery in Bangalore

• Complex CABG including multivessel disease
• CABG with Coronary Endarterectomy for severely diseased vessels
• Redo Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• MICS CABG for minimally invasive revascularisation

Valve Surgery and Rhythm Restoration

Dr Rahul Rao independently performs advanced valve surgery combined with surgical rhythm restoration for patients with concurrent atrial fibrillation — a combined approach that addresses both the structural and rhythm pathology in a single operation:

• Mitral Valve Replacement and Repair
• Aortic Valve Replacement including Root Widening and Root Replacement
• Mitral Valve Surgery with Pulmonary Vein Isolation (Cut and Sew technique)
• Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion
• Right Atrial Lesions with Reduction Plasty
• Combined Valve Surgery with Atrial Fibrillation Surgery in a single setting

Robotic Cardiac Surgery

As part of the Narayana Health Robotic Cardiac Surgery Programme — the largest robotic cardiac surgical team in India — Dr Rahul Rao contributes to robotic procedures across:

• Robotic CABG
• Robotic Valve Replacement Surgery
• Robotic ASD and Structural Defect Repair
• Robotic VSD and TAPVC correction

Aortic Root and Complex Structural Surgery

• Aortic Root Widening Procedures
• Aortic Root Replacement Surgery
• Pericardial Disease management and surgery
• ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) Closure

Coronary Angiogram and Interventional Cardiology Support

• Coronary Angiogram
• Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)
• Pacemaker Implantation

Thoracic Surgery

• Minimally invasive thoracic surgical procedures
• Thoracotomy-based surgery
• Open chest management in complex post-operative cardiac cases

Qualifications and Training

• MBBS, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka (2007)
• Diploma in Bacteriology, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka (2010)
• PG Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC), Indira Gandhi National Open University (2013)
• DNB Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi (2020)

Registered with the Karnataka Medical Council (Reg. No. 78035). Dr Rahul Rao completed his DNB CTVS residency at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bommasandra, training under Dr Devi Shetty and Dr Praveen Kumar, two of India's most eminent cardiac surgeons. He has been part of the Narayana Health cardiac surgery team for over 12 years, building deep expertise in complex and high-risk cardiac cases.

Awards and Recognition

• Best Outgoing Resident in Cardiology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore
• Faculty Speaker at the Cardiac Intensive Care Symposium (NH-CICS), Narayana Health City, Bangalore — presented on Open Chest Management
• Part of the Narayana Health Robotic Cardiac Surgery Programme team that crossed 1,000 robotic cardiac surgeries since programme inception in April 2024 and performed 560 robotic cardiac surgeries in 2025 — establishing Narayana Health City as a global Centre of Excellence in Robotic Cardiac Surgery

Current Hospital Affiliations in Bangalore

Dr Rahul Rao currently consults as a cardiac surgeon in Bangalore at:

• Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bommasandra, Bangalore — Associate Consultant, Cardiac Surgery (Consultation Fee: ₹1,050)
• Apollo Clinic, Chikkamaranahalli (BEL Road), Bangalore (Consultation Fee: ₹1,000)

Consultation timings: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Previous Experience

Dr Rahul Rao has built his surgical career entirely at leading cardiac and multispeciality centres in Bangalore:

• Associate Consultant, Cardiac Surgery, Narayana Health, Bommasandra (Oct 2022 to Present)
• Junior Consultant, Cardiac Surgery, Narayana Health, Bommasandra (Oct 2020 to Oct 2022)
• Resident, DNB CTVS, Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bommasandra (May 2014 to Oct 2020)
• Senior Resident, Accident and Emergency, Manipal Health Systems (Jun 2009 to Jun 2015)
• Registrar, Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore (Dec 2013 to Apr 2014)
• Resident, St. John's Hospital, Bangalore (Aug 2011 to Aug 2013)

Academic and Research Contributions

Dr Rahul Rao is an active contributor to surgical education and academic cardiothoracic surgery at Narayana Health. He served as faculty at the Cardiac Intensive Care Symposium (NH-CICS) held at the Harold Varmus Auditorium, Narayana Health City, Bangalore, where he presented on Open Chest Management in post-cardiac surgery patients.

He is a registered member of CTSNet (Cardiothoracic Surgery Network) with listed practice areas in cardiac surgery, coronary disease, valve disease, pericardium, and ASD.

He actively participates in journal clubs, case presentations, and the DNB Cardiothoracic Surgery academic training programme at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences.

Book an Appointment with Dr Rahul Rao, Cardiac Surgeon in Bangalore

To check consultation fees and book a priority appointment with Dr Rahul Rao at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bommasandra, Bangalore, visit HexaHealth for a smooth and hassle-free booking experience.