Heart Disease is the number one cause of untimely deaths in the world. Bad lifestyle choices is the main cause for cardiac disease. Fatty food, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and alcohol are bad for heart health. Genetics also plays an important role in heart disease. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common amongst the heart diseases. After CABG the second most common heart surgery performed in India is for heart valve replacement. The surgery for aortic valve replacement can be done through open as well minimally invasive approach called TAVI. However for mitral valve replacement the only option available as of now is an open heart surgery wherein the valve is either repaired or replaced with a bio prosthetic valve.
Other heart diseases include blockage in heart arteries, calcification or blockage in aortic or mitral valve, hole in the heart, increase in the heart size, reduced blood pumping etc. Patients with irregular heart rate, Cardiac or Heart Failure are also very commonly treated in India by the heart specialist through pacemaker and ICD devices.
There are four valves in the heart Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve, Tricuspid and Pulmonary Valve. Each valve has two common functions i.e. to open fully so that the blood could flow through it and close tightly so that back flow of the blood is not possible. Most of the patients that are treated in India for heart valve problems are those who have problem either with aoric or mitral valve functioning. Aortic and Mitral valve are on the left chamber of the heart that is responsible for the flow of oxygen rich blood to other parts of the body. The most common valve problems seen in patients in India are either thickeing of the valve or shrinking or calcification of the valve.
The treatment for all the above problems is either repair of the heart valve or the replacement of the valve with the bio prosthetic valve. Most of the cardiac surgeons in India would always prefer to try and repair the valve whereever possible. However in case replacement has to be done then in case of aortic valve replacement in India surgery can be done either through open heart approach or through TAVI which is a minimally invasive procedure like angioplasty. Mitral valve replacement surgery in India is done through open heart surgery only.
There are two types of surgery performed for the aortic heart valve replacement i.e. TAVI which is a minimally invasive procedure and the open heart surgery. The cost of TAVI would be approximately USD 4800-6800 whereas that of open heart aortic valve replacement surgery would be USD 4500 to 5500 USD. Cost of Mitral Valve Replacement surgery in India is approximately USD 4800 to 6000 depending upon the type of valve being used. There are two types of valves that are available for replacement, mechanical and tissue valve. The tissue valve is more expensive than mechanical valve. The minimally imnvasive surgery for the aortic heart valve replacement is performed by the experienced cardiologist in India whereas the open heart surgery for replacement or aortic or mitral valve is performed by a cardiac surgeon. Stay in the hospital for TAVI is 2-3 days whereas for the open heart surgery it is 7-8 days.
Return airfare to India from most of the countries of the world are in the range of USD 1000 - 1500. 3 star hotels are available for less than USD 100 for two people per day. The cost of food and local travel is also less than USD 50 for two persons for each day of stay in the country.