Artery blockages are like silent assassins. Deposition of plaque that blocks arteries takes time to build up and hardly shows any early symptoms until the artery gets severely constricted. Once blocked, treatment options are limited – the blockage needs to be cleared and arteries stented or bypass surgery performed to create a new pathway for the blood flow. The second option is medically more robust and reliable from a long term perspective but can be costly depending on the choice of the country and the hospital. India is the country of choice for international patients looking for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) for quality facilities at affordable costs.
This article discussed the 10 of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India.
The difference between stenting and bypass surgeries
Stenting and bypass are both ways to overcome a blocked artery. However, the procedures and implications are different.
Stenting involves placing a metal tube in the blocked passage after clearing the blockage fully or partially through procedures like angioplasty. It’s a minimally invasive procedure performed through a catheter. A patient does not require general anesthesia for angioplasty. Local anesthesia is sufficient and recovery is faster. Stents are effective, but the procedure does not work on the weakened artery in which the blockage occurred. So, the risk of further blockage and restenosis in the same artery remains despite medication.
CABG involves creating a new pathway for the blood to flow, bypassing the affected artery. Surgeons collect a healthy blood vessel from legs, arms, or other parts of the body, and connect that vessel to the areas above and below the blocked section of the artery to create a new pathway. It removes the risk of restenosis completely. This makes bypass a far more reliable long-term solution to blockage of arteries.
Why is CABG expensive?
The cost of performing CABG can be higher than angioplasty and stenting combined. The reasons are:
- Complex surgical procedures depending on the number of blockages
- Requires longer stay at the hospital after the surgery
- Performed under general anesthesia
- Multiple pre-surgery imaging
- Pre and post-surgery medications and care
These cost heads are unavoidable for any good quality CABG procedures. However, many of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India perform bypass surgeries within the affordability ranges of most people. This does not involve cutting corners or compromising the quality of care patients get at these hospitals. Almost every one of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India are Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited. This is proof of zero compromises on the quality of treatment. They are able to perform surgeries at competitive costs due to a combination of factors.
What makes blockage treatment at some of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India affordable?
Many of the top Indian hospitals perform bypass and other open heart surgeries within an affordable budget, and they achieve the same for several reasons.
- Many of these hospitals operate at high economies of scale. It means they perform thousands of these procedures, both for domestic and international patients. It makes the average costs of hospital infrastructure much lower for individual patients.
- India has a strong medical education infrastructure. The number of cardiologists and heart surgeons is quite high compared to other Western countries. This makes doctors’ fees a lot more affordable. Besides, access to any of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) doctors in India is much easier compared to other countries.
- The Indian government promotes medical tourism with special policy benefits to hospitals serving international patients. This further reduces the costs of treatment.
The top 10 best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India
India is the home to several top cardiology research centers and specialized hospitals for heart surgeries. We have listed the top 10 of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India.
- Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon
- Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai
- Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
- Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
- Manipal Hospitals Dwarka, Delhi
- Max Super Specialty Hospital, Gurgaon
- Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai
- SIMS Hospital, Vadapalani, Chennai
- BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital Delhi
Bottomline
People suffering from artery blockage often prefer angioplasty, combined with stenting, over more reliable options, like bypass surgery. Such decisions can be cost-driven, but may not be medically sound many times. For example, nowadays, people in their 40s and 50s are suffering from artery blockages. Bypass surgery can guarantee lifetime relief from future blockage for such patients. Many of the best heart bypass surgery (CABG) hospitals in India take care of the cost factor as well. So, if the time taken to recover is not a big concern, CABG is always a better treatment option and can be affordably accessed at many top Indian hospitals.
