Closed Heart Surgery

One month before the surgery

• Undergo a physical exam advised by the doctor
• Quit smoking, if applicable.
• Make lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of future heart disease.

Three weeks before the surgery

• Visit a dentist.
• Stop taking drugs or alcohol, if applicable.
• Make necessary arrangements for hospital transfer, preparation of meals after discharge, and other miscellaneous chores and tasks.

One week before the surgery

• Undergo all the pre-operational tests recommended by the doctor, including ECG, chest X-ray, and blood tests.
• Stop taking any natural or herbal remedies or supplements at least five days before the surgery.
• Take aspirin until the day of the surgery, if advised by the doctor.
• Stop taking antiplatelet medications and NSAIDs or take action as advised by the doctor.

One day before the surgery

• Prepare a hospital bag with all the necessary clothes and medications.
• Take medications as advised by the doctor.

The exact steps performed during a closed heart surgery actually depends on the type of procedure being conducted and the approach used to access the heart. The following are some of the major steps taken during closed heart surgery:

• General anaesthesia is administered to put you into a deep sleep. This is done so that you remain unconscious during the surgery and do not experience any pain and discomfort.
• Since a closed heart surgery is performed on a non-beating heart, the surgeon directly makes an incision or a hole in the chest or the side of the ribs to access the heart.
• The surgeon then takes specific actions to perform the corrective surgery for the ailment that the patient is suffering from.
• The incision or hole made to access the heart is closed as soon as the surgery is completed.

Closed heart surgery is not always performed as a corrective surgery. Sometimes, it may be performed as a palliative surgery as well. A palliative heart surgery is the one that is conducted to target the problems caused due to a heart defect rather than the defect itself. It is mostly performed when a series of surgeries are scheduled to be conducted for the correction of the heart defect such as a hole in the heart and ventricular septal defect.

Recovery after closed heart surgery depends on how well the surgery has been conducted and also on the overall health of the patient. Since closed heart surgery is conducted for the correction of minor heart defects, the overall recovery is good.

In case it is performed as a corrective surgery, the patient is typically discharged from the hospital within a day or two. In case closed heart surgery is performed as a palliative surgery, recovery may take some time and the patient may be kept in the hospital until other planned surgeries are conducted.

Careful monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU) is required in some cases. The patient is administered pain control medications through an IV line is required. Complete recovery in case of a closed heart surgery may last for a few days.

Cost of Closed Heart Surgery in India

India is one of the most popular medical tourism destinations and its popularity in the field of heart surgery cannot be underestimated. The country houses some of the most experienced and skilled cardiac surgeons, a majority of whom are trained and educated from abroad.

Closed heart surgery in India is highly affordable and cheap as compared to other medical tourism destinations. In fact, the cost of closed heart surgery in India is just a fraction of what it costs in the Western countries. A patient and his family save around 50 to 60 percent of their money by choosing to undergo treatment in India over a Western country even when all other non-medical miscellaneous expenses are taken into account.

The following table highlights the cost of closed heart surgery in India and some of the other popular medical tourism destinations: