Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does heart bypass surgery cost in India?
In India, the average cost of heart bypass surgery starts at around USD 4000. The prices, however, may vary depending on various factors listed above.
2. How serious is heart bypass surgery?
A coronary artery bypass graft, like any other type of surgery, carries some risks of complications. An irregular heartbeat or a wound infection, for example, are normally minor and manageable, but there is a danger of significant complications, such as a stroke or heart attack, though rare with advancements in technique and technology.
3. How long does the average person live after heart bypass surgery?
Heart bypass surgery offers a promising prognosis that has improved over the last three decades. In fact, the survival rate for bypass patients who survive the first month after surgery is comparable to the general population.
4. How long does it take to recover from heart bypass surgery?
Expect a six to twelve week recuperation period. After four to six weeks, if your doctor gives you the green signal, you can return to work, start exercising, and resume sexual activity.
5. What is the success rate of heart bypass surgery?
CABG can ease symptoms and perhaps prevent a heart attack by restoring blood flow to the heart. Every year, millions of coronary bypass surgeries are conducted across the world, with an overall success rate of over 98 percent.
6. How painful is bypass surgery?
The surgery is under general anesthesia and you will not feel any pain or discomfort during the surgery. For the time you are in hospital, your doctor shall prescribe you pain medication to control the pain.
For the first few weeks after surgery, you will be fatigued and sore. On either side of your chest, you may experience some intense aches. It's possible that your chest, shoulders, and upper back hurt. It's possible that the incision in your chest, as well as the area where the healthy vein was removed, will be uncomfortable or swollen.
7. Can bypass surgery be done without opening the chest?
Yes, minimally invasive open heart surgery is performed without opening the chest. You must check with your doctor if you are a candidate for minimally invasive bypass surgery though.
8. What is the difference between bypass surgery and open heart surgery?
Open heart surgery is the technique to perform bypass surgery. Bypass surgery can be done by opening the chest wall or through minimally invasive technique, without stopping the heart.
9. How long are you in ICU after open heart surgery?
You will normally spend around 7-8 days in the hospital after heart bypass surgery in India, of which 1-2 days would be in the ICU.
10. What is the age limit for bypass surgery?
The technique and technology has advanced phenomenally over the last few decades. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is increasingly common in patients of age ≥80 years, and that too with great success.