Aortic Valve Replacement with Cost

Aortic Valve Replacement

Aortic valve replacement surgery is an open-heart surgical procedure that is used to treat abnormalities with the aortic valve of the heart. The aortic valve is responsible for controlling the flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. 

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the removal of a malfunctioning or damaged valve and the replacement of a new valve composed of animal tissue or synthetic materials. 

An individual may develop problems with the aortic valve as a result of a birth defect. It could also be due to a medical problem such as a heart infection or age-related wear and tear. Treatment for aortic valve disease is determined by the severity of the condition, whether the individual has signs and symptoms, and if their condition is worsening.

For some individuals with mild aortic valve disease exhibiting no symptoms, careful monitoring under the guidance of a clinician may be sufficient. However, despite medical treatment, most cases of aortic valve disease and dysfunction worsen. 

The majority of aortic valve issues are mechanical in nature and cannot be addressed effectively with just medication. Such disorders eventually necessitate surgery to alleviate symptoms and lower the risk of complications like heart attack, heart failure, etc. 

What is covered in the above mentioned cost for surgery?

This price includes surgery cost, doctor’s fee, standard prescribed tests and all standard expenses required at the hospital.

India, A Preferred Destination For Aortic Valve Replacement

Thousands of patients with aortic valve deformities from India and overseas are treated each year by India’s best heart valve replacement surgeons. As a result, the country is known around the world for its team of heart specialists and surgeons.

In the list of countries with the best cardiac care, India has taken one of the top spots. This is due in part to the fact that the best medical advice from some of the most experienced cardiac doctors is available round the clock.

The low cost of aortic valve replacement in India is one of the main reasons why hundreds of people fly from all over the world and get operated here. Some other reasons that make India the hub for heart valve replacement are affordable living costs and how there is no waiting time for heart replacement. Additionally, patient assistance from beginning to end, great infrastructure, facilities at JCI and NABH-accredit hospitals, are also of significance.

Therefore, India provides economical treatment without sacrificing quality, world-class hospital standards, and the availability of sophisticated medical technology. For overseas patients, the hospitals provide a complete package, making the treatment highly cost-effective and allowing them to save a significant amount of money.

Indian Medical Visa Process (India e-Medical Visa)

By default, the Indian government allows a medical visa to be valid for 60 days. However, India’s new visa policy allows the paper-based medical visa to be extended for up to 180 days. 

Individuals can obtain an Indian Medical Visa by filling out an Indian Visa Application Form online.  This procedure will only take a couple of minutes. Then you have to make the payment through PayPal and provide the appropriate documents for treatment, such as a letter from a hospital. This process takes 72 hours to complete, and an accepted Visa is emailed to the concerned person. 

Nationals of e-Visa India-eligible countries who require a Medical Visa may apply online using the online e-Visa India application form at https://www.indiavisa-online.org. A letter from the hospital in India where they intend to receive treatment is required.

The individual may also be requested to show proof that they have enough money to cover their medical expenses in India. They may also be asked to produce a return travel ticket to their native country once the medical treatment is completed. These papers can be faxed or emailed to the Help Desk, or they can be submitted to the website later. 

One of the benefits of the Indian Medical Visa is that, unlike the 30-day Tourist Visa, which is only valid for two entries, it enables three entries into India during its 60-day duration. 

The following conditions and requirements of the e-Visa for medical treatment must be understood and remembered as pointers: 

• The Indian e-Medical Visa is valid for 60 days from the date of arrival in India.
• The e-Medical India Visa allows you to visit India three times.
• Individuals can apply for a Medical Visa up to three times per year.
• It is not possible to extend the electronic Medical Visa.
•  This visa is not convertible and cannot be changed to a tourist or business visa.
• It can’t be used to enter protected or restricted sites.
• Patients must show proof of financial support for their stay in India.
• During your trip to the airport, the patient must have a PDF or paper copy with you.
• On the e-Medical India Visa, patients can request a return ticket.
• There is no such thing as a group medical visa for India; each applicant must apply independently.
• On the day of arrival in India, the passport must be valid for at least six months.
• Individuals must have two blank pages in their passports so that immigration and border control personnel can stamp their passports at the airport for entry and exit.
• A regular passport is required to be presented. Indian Medical Visas cannot be obtained using diplomatic, service, official or refugee passports.
• Individuals must apply for a paper or conventional India Medical Visa rather than an electronic Medical Visa on the Govt. website if the treatment will continue longer than 180 days.

The website allows a person to apply online, and it will take you 3 to 5 minutes to finish the application. It is highly recommended that an individual applies for a Medical Visa in India online rather than visiting an Indian Embassy or High Commission.

Aortic Valve Replacement Procedure

The issues caused by damaged heart valves are treated through heart valve replacement surgery. If the valves are not functioning properly, then an individual may experience certain symptoms. These include chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting, etc. It can be life-threatening if the valve is not replaced.

The following types of aortic valve disease may necessitate aortic valve replacement (AVR).

• Regurgitation

It occurs when a valve fails to seal completely, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart. This could be caused by a bacterial infection, valve degeneration, or an irregular valve shape present at birth (congenital heart disease). 

• Stenosis

This happens when the aperture of the valve becomes too narrow and not enough blood flows out.  Congenital heart disease, thickening of the valve’s closure flaps (leaflets), or post-inflammatory alterations, such as those seen in rheumatic heart disease, can all contribute to this.

• Congenital heart disease

This can lead to regurgitation or aortic valve stenosis, as well as other complications of aortic valve replacement that prohibit the aortic valve from functioning properly. For example, a person’s aortic valve could be missing tissue flaps (cusps). This means that there could be no opening to allow blood to flow normally (atresia) or the valve could be the wrong size or form.

Preoperative Procedure For Aortic Valve Replacement

On the day of the surgery, the patient will be prepared for the same, and all the vitals will be checked before rolling the patient onto the operation theater.

An IV will be inserted into the forearm or hand by a specialist, and the patient will be given general anesthesia. The IV can also be used to provide anticoagulant medication to avoid blood clots. 

The patient may also be given medication to help avoid becoming infected. Hair may be shaved from the area of the body where the treatment will be performed. 

During The Procedure For Aortic Valve Replacement

The aortic valve is removed and replaced with a mechanical valve or a biological valve that comes from animal tissue. It’s also possible to get a biological tissue valve replacement that uses an individual’s own pulmonary valve.

As the biological tissue valves deteriorate with time, they frequently need to be replaced. If an individual is on a mechanical valve, the doctor will prescribe blood-thinning medications for the rest of their life. This is to avoid complications of aortic valve replacement like blood clots. Doctors will discuss the risks and benefits of each type of valve before replacement, as per the patient’s requirement.

Traditional open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods can be used to replace the aortic valve. Minimally invasive methods require smaller incisions than open-heart surgery. The nonsurgical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is another type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It is also called Transcatheter Aortic Valve implantation (TAVI).

Even though minimally invasive aortic valve replacement requires smaller incisions and aortic valve replacement recovery time is less, it is less prevalent.  This is because this form of access to the defective valve is not appropriate for all circumstances. The results are at par with the regular open-heart surgery when performed by qualified surgeons and centers.

Open-heart surgery is the most common technique, and it normally takes 2-4 hours. After the patient is rolled into the operation theater and prepared for the surgery, the surgeon will create an incision of 6- to 8-inch in the chest. The breastbone is split open.  

The surgeon will stop the patient’s heart and connect it to a heart-lung machine. This machine pumps your blood for the patient during the surgery. The surgeon will then remove the damaged valve and replace it with a new one. After the procedure, the surgeon will close the chest and restart the heart.

Post-operative Procedure For Aortic Valve Replacement

Following surgery, the patient will be taken to a recovery room and then to the intensive care unit (ICU), where they will be closely watched for many days. The patient’s vitals are monitored constantly by a nurse. In most cases, open-heart valve replacement surgery necessitates multiple days in the hospital.

Until the patient is stable enough to breathe on their own, they are most likely to have a tube in their throat connected to a ventilator to help them breathe. Once the patient wakes up from the anesthetic and begins to breathe on their own, the doctor may alter the breathing machine. 

The doctor will then remove the breathing tube so that the patient can breathe totally on their own and cough. At this time, they may also remove the stomach tube.

A nurse will assist the patient in coughing and taking deep breaths every couple of hours after the breathing tube is removed. This will be painful due to soreness, but it is necessary to prevent mucus from accumulating in the lungs and possibly causing pneumonia. To help relieve the pain, the nurse will show the patient how to grip a cushion closely to their chest while coughing.

To relieve the associated pain, the doctor will give pain medication. The patient may be on IV (intravenous) medications to aid with the blood pressure, bleeding, and heart issues. As the condition improves, the doctor will progressively reduce and eventually discontinue these medications. They may also remove any pacing wires that may be present in the heart.

The patient may begin to drink liquids once the doctor removes the breathing and stomach tubes. As soon as the condition improves the patient will be given solid foods. The time may vary from patient to patient depending on their condition and improvement. 

The patient will be moved from the ICU to a surgical unit or an acute care unit when your healthcare professional determines that the individual is ready. There, the treatment will continue. As the patient gets out of bed and walks for longer lengths of time, their stamina will increase. 

A member of the healthcare team will make arrangements for the patient to return home and schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor.

Tips And Advice

After surgery, the patient is usually instructed to take a few medicines for a few weeks. Depending on the patient’s condition and recovery, the duration of the drugs may be shortened or eliminated entirely.

The patient must return to the doctor as directed for follow-up appointments. During the follow-up visit, the doctor may request a few tests to check for tissue healing and to see how the replacement valve is working.

Upon reaching home it is advisable to keep the surgical area clean and dry. Specific bathing instructions will be supplied by the doctor. If the sutures or surgical staples were not removed before leaving the hospital, the doctor will do so during a follow-up office appointment.

Do not drive until the doctor says it is safe. Other restrictions on activities may apply too. The overall health, age, and type of surgery will determine the aortic valve replacement recovery time for the patient. It will be longer if the patient had open-heart surgery. It’s possible that the wound will be inflamed, red and swollen. 

The patient becomes exhausted quickly, does not eat much, has trouble sleeping or any other unusual symptom, all of this is to be expected, and it will improve over time. But, if you are not sure, it is better to contact the doctor. 

It will take 6-8 weeks for the breastbone to recover, but it could take up to 3 months before the patient feels normal again. The doctor may recommend an activity regimen or cardiac rehab.

The length of the recovery is determined by the operation, the overall health prior to the procedure, and any complications.

For several weeks, the doctor may urge the patient to avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds. Depending on the recovery of the patient, the doctor may advise resuming regular activity.

How can MyMedTrip.com help?

If you have decided to travel to India for aortic valve replacement surgery, you may contact us on our Whatsapp number +91 9818237391 or email us at hi@mymedtrip.com The first consultation arranged by us is free of cost! We also provide visa invitation letters and help in facilitating the medical journey to India. 

Throughout the journey, you shall be provided with one of our staff members for proper guidance through linguistic barriers, even though most of the hospitals and doctors we feature are well versed with Arabic, Russian,Bengali, and English.

If you have any further queries or questions related to aortic valve replacement surgery  in India, please do not hesitate to email us at the aforementioned address.

Frequently Asked Questions about Aortic Valve Replacement

Is it possible to fly after an aortic valve replacement surgery?

Those who have had aortic valve replacement surgery, as well as those who have had coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG), can normally travel after 4-6 weeks.

How does an individual feel after the aortic valve has been replaced?

For the first few weeks after surgery, the patient may be fatigued and hurting. On either side of the chest, there can be some intense aches. It’s possible that the chest, upper back, and shoulders hurt. The chest incision may also be inflamed or painful.

Can a person drink alcohol after aortic valve replacement?

A patient can drink water. Drink alcohol only in moderation after consulting the doctor. It is better to avoid sugary soft drinks.

What food is good for the heart valve?

There are few healthy foods that can be good for the heart valves. They are leafy green vegetables, berries, whole grains, dark chocolates, etc.

When a patient has open heart surgery, how long does it take to wake up?

The ICU at the hospital is uniquely outfitted to monitor your vital signs. The medical staff is trained to protect more vulnerable patients. It’s possible that the patient won’t be able to move for two to four hours after they have been sedated.

How can a patient sleep following AVR?

Sleeping on the back, side, or stomach is fine. That way the incisions will not be harmed.

How can they put a stop to the heart so that surgery can be performed?

The surgeon injects a chemical substance (cardioplegia) into the heart, which causes it to cease working. The potassium ion in the solution has a calming impact on the heart. The heart is restarted by resuming blood flow through the coronary arteries, which eliminated the potassium.

Can a patient exercise after having an aortic valve replaced?

The patient should be able to resume their normal activities and will most likely have greater exercise tolerance. The general norm is to wait three months before participating in sports such as swimming, racquetball, hiking, golfing, bicycling, or bowling.

Can a patient drive after a heart valve replacement?

After the surgery, the patient should not drive for at least 4 to 6 weeks. The twisting motions required to turn the steering wheel may cause the incision to stretch. Expect to be off of work for 6 to 8 weeks. Inquire with the doctor about the ability to return to work.