How Safe Is Heart Surgery In India? Everything You Need To Know

Heart Surgery In India

The heart is a muscular organ with four chambers, i.e., the right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, and left ventricle. Each chamber has a specific role in blood circulation. The right atrium and right ventricle receive deoxygenated blood and send it to the lungs, while the left atrium and left ventricle receive oxygenated blood and pump it to the whole body.

Any disruption in blood flow or blockages in the heart can lead to severe cardiovascular disease. Your doctor may recommend heart surgery.

Cardiac surgeons in India perform various types of surgery, such as making one cut or several cuts. The exact method depends on the heart problem, patient age, medical history and other factors.

Your cardiologist will suggest surgery when you have a heart attack or when there is a severe problem in the heart, and surgery is the best way to fix it. Cardiac surgery improves the functioning of your heart.

When Do You Need Heart Surgery?

1. Aortic Aneurysm

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body. It carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to all other parts of the body. But when it swells unnaturally, then it becomes life-threatening. You will have severe chest pain and shortness of breath.

2.Arrhythmia

Your heart beats in a steady rhythm. But if it beats too fast or too slow or irregularly, then you will have palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath. This can happen if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.

3. Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease refers to structural heart defects present at birth. Some effects are mild while others can adversely affect the heart's functions. Common symptoms include breathlessness, fast breathing, blue lips and poor growth in children. The exact cause of congenital heart disease is still unknown. But some research says that genetics or infections during pregnancy can cause this disease. 

4. Heart Failure

Heart failure is a condition in which your heart becomes too weak to pump blood effectively to different parts of the body. It develops because of coronary heart disease, heart valve problems or high blood pressure.

You will experience shortness of breath, extreme tiredness or swelling in legs, ankles or feet.

What Happens Before Heart Surgery In India?

Your healthcare provider will do a thorough examination of your entire body and perform some vital tests like heart MRI, cardiac CT scan, chest X-ray, coronary angiogram and electrocardiogram. 

You can expect your doctor to ask questions related to your medical history and your biological family's medical history. You can talk about the symptoms and how long you have been observing them.

Once your surgery is scheduled, you should stop smoking or drinking alcohol to lower the chances of complications during the surgery. You need to stop certain medications and fast the day before surgery.

Risks Associated With Heart Surgery In India

There are certain risks associated with heart surgery. Some of them are listed below.

• Allergic reaction to anesthesia
• Bleeding
• Confusion
• Trouble in thinking
• Stroke
• Infections in the incision or inside your chest

The risks are higher if you have

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Peripheral artery disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

Types Of Heart Surgery In India

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery is one of the most common heart surgeries in India, which treats narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart. But when these arteries block, or plaque builds up, it blocks oxygen-rich blood and causes severe chest pain, palpitations, or sometimes a heart attack.

You need to visit the hospital on the day of surgery and sign the consent form. You need to remove the jewellery and other objects that interfere with the surgical procedure. You have to wear a hospital gown and empty your bladder. Your healthcare provider will insert an IV line in your arm or chest. You will be given anesthesia for which you will remain unconscious during the entire procedure. The anesthesiologist will keep track of your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing during the surgery.

During the surgery, your surgeon will take a healthy blood vessel from the leg or wrist and create a new pathway for blood to flow around the blocked artery. This ensures that enough oxygenated blood flows to your heart and reduces the risk of a heart attack. The coronary artery bypass surgery cost in India ranges from $4000 to $8500.

2. Angioplasty And Stent Placement

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgery commonly preferred to open blocked or narrowed arteries.

Your doctor gently inserts a thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel near your wrist or groin. The surgeon moves the catheter carefully till it reaches the blocked artery area and then inflates the balloon at the tip of it. This will push the blockage aside and open up the coronary artery. Your surgeon will then place a metal tube called a stent in the artery. The stent will stay in the artery permanently and prevent it from getting blocked.

You need to stay in the hospital for a few hours or overnight after the surgery. You can drive and go back to your workplace a week after the angioplasty process.

3. Heart Transplant Surgery

Your surgeon suggests heart transplant surgery to remove your diseased heart and replace it with a donor heart.

You will remove jewellery or other objects that interfere with the surgical procedure. Your healthcare professional will start an intravenous line for injecting fluids or other medicines. You will then be given anaesthesia, and after which you will be in a deep sleep during the surgery. Your surgeon will then put a breathing tube into your mouth up to the lungs. The breathing tube further connects with a machine known as a ventilator, which will breathe for you during surgery.

Your surgeon will then cut the breastbone and split it in half. The surgeon will then put tubes in the chest to divert the blood flow towards the bypass machine. The machine will pump the blood when the surgeon is removing the diseased heart. The surgeon will then replace the diseased heart with the donor heart.

4. Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Your doctor recommends aortic valve replacement surgery when there is a need to repair or replace the aortic valve.

The aortic valve controls blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. But if the valve gets blocked or narrows, then it adversely affects the blood flow. Your surgeon replaces the damaged valve with a new one.

Aortic valve replacement surgery comes with certain risks, like other surgeries. The risks include bleeding, heart attack, heart failure, stroke or abnormal heart rhythm.

Recovery from this surgery usually takes four to eight weeks. However, you will recover earlier if you have minimally invasive surgery.

5. Robotic Heart Surgery

Robotic heart surgery is one of the most advanced and modern heart surgeries in India. Here, your surgeons will make small cuts in the chest. Precision-guided robotic arms and a tiny camera are inserted into these openings. The camera gives a clear, magnified view of the image inside the heart. Your surgeon will control robotic arms and a camera from a console in the operating room.

Your healthcare provider will do the robotic heart surgery by giving general anesthesia. This will cause you to sleep deeply during the surgery. You cannot feel the pain during the surgery.

Robotic heart surgery has fewer risks, less pain, and less bleeding compared to open heart surgery. Your surgeon will prefer robotic heart surgery for valve repair or bypass surgery. But its cost is quite high compared to traditional open-heart surgery.

Heart Surgery Recovery 

The heart surgery recovery period is the healing period after the surgery. Your body gradually regains strength and functions normally.

You need to stay in the hospital for almost 5-7 days after surgery. Your doctor will closely observe heart rate, blood pressure, and overall health and will advise when to lift heavy objects or to drive. You have to follow all the instructions provided by the healthcare provider.

Initial recovery at home takes around 2-3 weeks, during which you will experience mild pain at the surgical site. You need to take prescribed medicines on time and eat a balanced diet to recover faster. Your heart surgeon recommends joining cardiac rehabilitation programs and adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Complete recovery usually takes 6-8 weeks, depending on the surgery type and the overall health condition of the patient. Regular follow-ups are highly essential to monitor your heart health and prevent complications.

Heart Surgery Success Rate

Heart surgery success rate is higher in India because of advanced medical technology and the best cardiologists. Most common procedures in India include coronary artery bypass surgery, valve replacement surgery and angioplasty. Success rates of these procedures range from 85 to 90 percent.

How Can You Take Care Of Yourself After Heart Surgery?

• You should give enough time to your body to heal. Your health care provider will tell you when to return to work, drive, or lift objects.
• You should take medications as prescribed by the doctor.
• You should exercise regularly and limit alcohol and smoking as much as possible.
• Always eat heart-healthy foods

You should call your healthcare provider if you observe chest pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, balance problems, vision changes and shortness of breath.

Heart Surgery India Vs UK Cost

Heart disease is one of the leading health concerns worldwide. Many surgeons suggest surgical procedures to improve the quality of life. But the cost of treatment is a major concern in countries like the UK. 

But in India, you can have major heart surgeries like bypass surgery and angioplasty at an affordable rate.

Here is a table below which compares the cost of various surgical procedures in India and the UK.

 

Procedure	Cost In India	Cost in UK
Bypass surgery	$4000 to $8000	$20,000 to $40,000
Valve Replacement	$5000 to $10,000	$25,000 to $50,000
Angioplasty	$2500 to $5000	$10,000 to $20,000
Heart Transplant	$25,000 to $40,000	More than $100,000

Why Most Patients Prefer Heart Surgery In India Compared to the UK?

• India has reputed hospitals, and these hospitals provide advanced medical infrastructure. You will find the best cardiologists in India. Doctors are highly skilled and experienced in doing advanced surgical procedures.
• One of the major benefits of heart surgery in India is shorter waiting times. You can schedule heart surgery in a few days. But if we talk about the UK, then patients have to wait longer for scheduling heart surgery. This has an adverse effect on the health of the patient.
• Heart surgery in the UK is quite costly. You need to spend more than $100,00 for a heart transplant. Everyone in the UK cannot afford it. India offers advanced medical infrastructure at an affordable cost. You can have heart surgery in India at 70-80 percent lower costs than in the United States.

Factors Affecting the Cost Of Heart Surgery In India

Various factors affect the cost of heart surgery in India. Some of them are in the list below.

1. Heart Surgery Type

The type of heart surgery in India affects your overall cost. Different surgical procedures require different levels of medical expertise, technology and postoperative care. For instance, if you do a simple procedure like stent placement, they are inexpensive because they are minimally invasive. You don't need to stay in the hospital for many days. But if you do a heart transplant, then it will cost you more as it requires intensive recovery care.

2. Hospital Choice

The hospital you select in India plays an important role in determining the cost of heart surgery in India. If you select large multispeciality hospitals, then they have private and semi-private rooms, modern operating theaters, advanced ICU facilities and provide personalised care.

But if you choose small hospitals and regional healthcare centers, then they charge less for heart treatment. But these hospitals will not provide the same level of technology or services as large multispeciality hospitals.

3. Surgeon Experience

The experience and reputation of a cardiac surgeon also affect the cost of heart surgery. Highly skilled surgeons with years of experience in performing heart surgeries will charge you more. Their experience reduces complications and improves success rates. So many patients prefer highly skilled and experienced surgeons for their heart surgery.

4. Patient Medical Condition

The overall condition of the patient also affects the cost of heart surgery in India. Patients with diabetes, kidney disease or high blood pressure require extra metal to be added during and after the surgery. They may require staying more days in the hospital, and hence the cost increases. Simultaneously, if the patient stays in a premium hospital room and requires extended ICU care, then the cost increases.

Why Should You Connect With Racure Healthcare For Heart Surgery In India?

Racure Healthcare is a popular medical tourism Company in India. The company schedules a virtual consultation with the best cardiologist in India before arriving at the destination. You can ask queries or discuss your health condition in the virtual consultation.

Racure Healthcare assists in online visa applications and makes flight arrangements, ensuring you reach your destination without any hassle.

The company provides a personal care executive who will stay with patients 24/7 and assist you. Racure Healthcare provides treatment, travel and logistics-related services.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is heart surgery in India safe?

Yes, heart surgery in India is considered safe because of reputed hospitals, the best cardiologists, and advanced medical care.

2. How long does the recovery take after heart surgery?

Most patients recover after 6-8 hours of surgery. However, it depends on the surgery type and overall health condition.

3. How can I choose the best hospital for heart surgery in India?

You should consider a few factors while choosing the best hospital for heart surgery in India. They are as follows.

• Hospital reputation
• Surgeon expertise
• ICU facilities
• Patient review and support services.

Final Words

Heart surgery can feel frightening for patients and their families, especially when it involves decisions related to safety and selecting the right hospital.

The best hospitals in India are equipped with state-of-the-art operating theaters and modern ICUs. These hospitals perform major cardiac surgeries. The recovery success rate is quite high.

You can connect with Racure Healthcare. The company provides a list of the best cardiologists, hospitals and clinics that suit your treatment.

Connect with Racure Healthcare today to know more about its services.