Coronary Heart Bypass Surgery in India – Cost, Benefits, Risks

Due to poor lifestyle or external factors, the blood and oxygen supplying arteries stop working properly. They grow hard and narrow which causes insufficient supply of oxygen and blood to the heart. Basically, huge plaque builds up in the arteries that restrict the adequate flow of oxygen and blood. If the blockage is sustained for long, the person may suffer a severe heart attack or multiple heart attacks.

Ordinary artery blockage can be removed through continuous medicines, exercises and strict change in the lifestyle. But, if you are diagnosed with serve artery blockage then coronary heart bypass surgery, also called CABG is suggested.

A healthy heart helps you live many blossoms to the fullest.

How CABG Eliminates the Artery Blockage?

It’s very difficult to fix the blocks in the arteries. With limited or no flow of oxygen and blood in the heart, no survival can be imagined. CABG is an effective way to continue the blood and oxygen flow by creating alternative paths around the blocked arteries. The cardiothoracic surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from one of your body parts like chest or leg and connects it to the functioning arteries around the blocked area.

Stenting and balloon angioplasty are done for basic level blockages but coronary artery bypass graft surgery is the ultimate cure for severe artery blockage. However, regular exercise, healthy diet and healthy lifestyle are recommended by the doctors even after the successful accomplishment of CABG.

Benefits of CABG

Risks Involved with CABG

Boon always comes with one or multiple banes. Undoubtedly the CABG surgery is live-saving but no medical procedure offers 100% guarantee and CABG is not an alien process. There are some risks associated with CABG surgery. The major risks are –

Though the success rate of CABG surgery is pretty high, one can overlook the risks as well. The aforementioned risks are there if –

Preparation before CABG

As, CABG is an invasive process, there is a special pre-surgery and post-surgery care required for the patient. It takes many months for recovery after CABG process. The surgeon usually calls the patient around 2 weeks ago for a comprehensive consultation session. All the risks, costs and cares related to the surgery are discussed to make the process transparent to the patient. The surgeon also asks for some basic tests like blood test for anaemia, Prothrombin time test, x-ray of chest, Cardiac catheterization and some other blood tests to ensure a healthy kidney and liver.

All or most of the major ongoing medicines are suggested to be stopped till a significant amount of strength is regained by the patient after the surgery.

Diabetic patients need to take special care before the CABG procedure. In diabetes, the insulin or medication suppresses the blood sugar level and before the surgery, fasting for hours is usually suggested and the dropped blood glucose level may not be the desired condition for the surgery. Too high blood sugar level is also dangerous and no surgeon agrees for surgery in such cases.

For a convenient hospital discharge, all the bills, medical insurance documents and the elementary formalities need to be taken care of properly. The patient’s family or facilitator should arrange the transport in advance to take the patient back home / accomodation safely and comfortably.

Though there are very fewer chances, the patient should remain gear up for the consequences like memory loss, stroke or even death and hence proper legal, social and financial arrangements should be considered before going for the surgery.

The Thriving CABG Healthcare Scenario in India

The Indian healthcare industry is flourishing at the rate of 12% CAGR at present and a huge boom is expected soon after the GST implementation. The everyday introducing new technique and cutting-edge equipment are amplifying the chances of survival. The increasing medical tours, awareness programs and the introduction of modernized healthcare centers in the major vicinities in India are contributing to the cardiac care industry’s growth in India.

The major hospitals offering first-rate CABG surgery in India are –

Cost of Coronary Heart Bypass Surgery in India

Coronary Heart Bypass Surgery is a complex and major invasive surgery performed under strict surveillance of the expert surgeons and done by a dexterous medical team. It’s a costly procedure demanding advanced equipment. The robotic CABG process is the advanced version of traditional CABG which is also costlier, faster and involves lesser risk. The Indian healthcare industry is not only standing tall by virtue of its sprawling growth but the reasonable healthcare expense is also a big reason for its worldwide popularity. Cardiac, cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics and dental care and surgeries are the major fascinating sectors in India that drive a huge global population every year.

In India, it takes around USD 6,000 to USD 9,500 for CABG surgery in India which is at least 60-65% cheaper than the same in the developed countries like USA, Canada and Germany. Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai are the cities with the best cardiac care hospitals. The Indian government is spending a significant amount of GDP to grow the healthcare sector in India and match the international standards. The support of Indian Government is making the healthcare, especially the cardiac care affordable to the native and international people visiting India.

There are two types of CABG treatment – On Pump and Off Pump and the surgery cost depends on its type and the cruciality of the damage in the arteries. There are many pre-surgery and post-surgery tests as well that add to the expenses.

Also, there's one more type of heart bypass treatment with minimal invasion. MIDCAB or Minimally Invasive Heart Bypass Surgery has made waves. Most of the cardiac hospitals prefer this approach to treat the coronary heart disease. The surgery is performed on a well-functioning heart making a small incision.

Sources:

1. MediFee
2. Health-Tourism.com
3. The Economic Times
4. AboutPharma Online
5. John Hopkins Medicine
6. MedlinePlus