Dr Manoj Luthra

Overview

An echocardiogram, or "echo,” is a scan that uses ultrasound to scan your heart and nearby heart vessels. The sound waves will create real-time moving pictures of your heart so that your doctor can get a good look at its shape and size. Your doctor may suggest you have an “echo” if your heart specialist thinks that you might have a problem with your heart. There are various types of echo and only your doctor can tell you which is best for your heart condition. Here we’ve discussed various types of echo and the cost of the same.

Why do you need an echocardiogram?

Your health care provider will order an echo for a variety of reasons. An echocardiogram may be required if:

• You have symptoms, and your doctor wants to know more about them (either by diagnosing a problem or ruling out possible causes).
• Your doctor suspects that you have heart disease. The echo is used to diagnose and learn more about a specific problem.
• Your doctor wants to double-check a condition that you've already been diagnosed with. Some people with valve disease, for example, require echo tests on a regular basis.
• You're getting ready for a surgery or procedure.
• Your doctor wants to see how a surgery or procedure went.

Also, read - Heart CT Scan - Know Heart Blockage Without Angiography

What are the various types of echocardiograms?

There are several types of echocardiogram tests available. As per our expert cardiologists, the various echo tests are mentioned below.

• Transthoracic echocardiogram: This is considered a standard test. It’s kind of like an X-ray test but without radiation. A hand-held tip or transducer is placed on your chest. It sends off high-frequency sound waves to and around your heart. You will remove your clothing from the waist up and change into a hospital gown.

On an exam table, you will lie on your left side. The transducer will be passed across several areas of your chest by the sonographer. A small amount of gel will be applied at the end of the transducer. This will help in creating clearer images.

• Transesophageal echocardiogram: The transducer will go down to your throat into the esophagus. This is done to get a clearer picture of the heart as this position is nearer to the heart.

Your doctor will advise you not to eat or drink anything for 6 hours before the test. Talk to your doctor if you’re feeling stressed or anxious beforehand. They will give you a mild sedative to help you relax.

• Stress echo: This test is administered while exercising on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. It depicts the motion of your heart's walls as well as the pumping action when it is working hard. It can also reveal a lack of blood flow that other heart tests may miss.

As per our cardiologists, exercise echocardiography is an accurate and cost-efficient technique for the detection of coronary artery disease in women. Before considering this test, the following points need to be kept in mind.

-do not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the test.

-do not consume any caffeinated products like tea, coffee, cola, or chocolate.

- avoid smoking for at least 24 hours.

As nicotine and caffeine might affect the result.

Also, read - Heart Bypass Surgery Age Limit

What does an echo show?

An echo test result may detect many different types of heart diseases like:

• Congenital heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Cardiac tumor
• Pericardial disease
• Valve disease
• Infective endocarditis
• Aortic aneurysm

Also, read - Heart Surgeries Types

How long does an echo take?

The test may usually take around 40 minutes to one hour.

However, a transesophageal echo may take around 90 minutes.

How much does the cost of echocardiograms in India?

The cost of an echocardiogram test in India may vary based on multiple factors.

This includes-

• The location of the lab or the hospital
• The infrastructure of the lab
• Consultation fees of your doctor
• The skill and experience of your doctor

In India, the average price range for an echo test is around Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4000.

Also, read - Can Heart Patients Lift Weights

How can we help with the treatment?

If you are in search of hospitals specializing in cardiac treatment in India, our medical trip advisors will serve as your guide for the same. They will be physically present with you even before the medical treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance with hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality medical tourism in India to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health trip advisors who will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.

Overview

When your heart is unable to receive the right amount of blood, it may suffer from multiple heart conditions. This may happen due to the clogging of coronary arteries. And to treat such a condition, a new path is created to allow smooth blood flow to your heart. The procedure is called "bypass surgery." The surgery is performed by taking a healthy piece of tissue from any part of the body and then attaching this around the damaged vessels. However, before undergoing such a procedure, you should have an idea about the cost of bypass surgery in India. Here we’ve discussed the same.

Why do you need to undergo bypass surgery?

The following conditions may necessitate bypass surgery: If you are

-Suffering from severe chest pain caused by narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle

-If more than one coronary artery is diseased and the left ventricle is not functioning properly, this is a sign of heart failure.

-Because this artery supplies the most blood to your left ventricle, the main coronary artery on the left is narrowed or blocked.

-An artery blockage that cannot be treated with angioplasty or a previously performed angioplasty or stent placement.

-In the event of an emergency, such as a heart attack, where the patient has not responded to other treatments,

Also, read - Which Graft is used in CABG?

What is the cost of bypass surgery treatment in India?

• Rooms: The type of room you choose has an impact on the cost. In India, you can select from various room categories such as super deluxe rooms, deluxe rooms, and standard rooms. Room service, nurse fees, and meals are all included.
• Doctors: If you choose to have your bypass surgery performed by the best cardiac surgeon in India, you will have to pay a higher fee. You can also limit your search for the best cardiologist to cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Bangalore to save money if you live nearby.
• Procedures: You must also consider the cost of diagnostic procedures and tests, medications, and follow-ups.

Apart from the above, there are various other factors, like accommodation and hospital costs, from which you will get your treatment. The cost can vary a lot based on the infrastructure of the hospital. Our health trip advisors will help you to find the best hospital to avail of the highest quality treatment in India.

The average cost of heart bypass surgery ranges from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 3,95,000. The price may be more or less than this estimated cost.

Also, read - Average Life Expectancy After Bypass Surgery

For how long do you have to stay in hospital after a heart bypass?

Patients usually need to stay in the hospital for 7 days after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) so that medical professionals can closely monitor their recovery.

You will most likely feel groggy and uncomfortable after the procedure, but you will be given medications to help with that. If your discomfort worsens or you notice significant bleeding, contact your doctor or nurse right away. Recovery from a coronary artery bypass graft procedure takes time.

You should be able to sit in a chair, walk, and walk up and down stairs after 5 or 6 days. In most cases, full recovery takes about 12 weeks. A follow-up appointment should be scheduled 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery.

Also, read - Most Common Bypass Surgery Risks

How can we help with the treatment?

If you are in search of heart bypass surgery treatment in India, our medical trip advisors will serve as your guide throughout the treatment. They will be physically present with you even before the medical treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance with hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality medical tourism in India to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health trip advisors who will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.

Overview

All expecting parents want their children to be healthy. However, in some cases, things don’t go as per usual. They might be born with congenital anomalies like a hole in their hearts. In medical language, this is termed an ASD(atrial septal defect). With modern-day developments in surgical science, the holes are easily treatable. Before undergoing such surgeries for your child, you need to know about the procedure, package price, and other details related to the surgery. This will help you to make an informed decision for your child.

What is ASD, or a hole in the heart?

ASD, or Atrial Septal Defect, is a medical term for a hole in the heart. This is congenital heart disease(in-born anomaly). The heart has four chambers- two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. If any opening exists between the two upper chambers(right and left atria), the condition is known as a hole in the heart.

Also, read - Cerebral Palsy Symptoms in Babies - Risk Factor, Prevention, Treatment

What causes ASD?

Congenital heart defects are caused by problems early in the development of the heart, but there is often no clear cause. Environmental and genetic factors may be involved. VSDs can occur on their own or in conjunction with other congenital heart defects.

What are the symptoms associated with ASD?

ASDs are present from birth, but there are usually no associated symptoms, and the condition can go undetected until adulthood. In some cases, the defect is discovered by chance during a chest X-ray that reveals right-sided heart enlargement.

By the age of 50, an individual with an ASD may begin to exhibit symptoms such as:

-Breathing difficulties

-Fainting

-Heart rhythm irregularities

-Fatigue following light activity or exercise

Also, read - Pediatric Cardiology Surgery - Treating the Heart of Your Little Ones

Why does your child need surgery immediately?

If an ASD is not repaired, the extra blood flow to the right side of the heart and lungs may cause heart problems in the long run. Most of these issues do not manifest themselves until adulthood, usually around the age of 30 or later. In infants and children, complications are uncommon. Complications could include:

ASD causes the right side of the heart to work harder because it has to pump more blood to the lungs. The heart may become tired from the extra work and stop pumping properly over time.

Arrhythmias: Excess blood flowing into the right atrium as a result of an ASD can cause it to stretch and enlarge. Irregular heartbeats can develop as a result of this over time. Palpitations or a racing heart are examples of arrhythmia symptoms.

Stroke: Small blood clots that form on the right side of the heart are usually filtered out by the lungs. A blood clot can sometimes pass from the right atrium to the left atrium via an ASD and be pumped out of the body. This type of clot can travel to a brain artery, blocking blood flow, and result in a stroke.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH): This is defined as an increase in pulmonary arterial pressure. These arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the lungs. PH can cause damage to the arteries and small blood vessels in the lungs over time. They thicken and stiffen, making blood flow through them more difficult.

Also, read - Adenotonsillectomy Indications in Children

Cost of a hole in heart surgery or ASD

The average cost of Arterial Septal Defect surgery in various cities in India starts from 2 lakh to 5 lakh. However, the cost may vary based on multiple factors, including:

• The age of the patient
• The severity of the condition
• Patient’s overall health condition
• The location of the hospital
• Experience of the doctor
• 7 days hospital charge
• Operation theatre charges
• Medicines and investigative tests related to the procedure

How can we help with the treatment?

If you want to undergo treatment for congenital heart disease in India, our health trip advisors serve as your guides throughout the medical treatment and will be physically present with you even before the treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance with hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality health care to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health trip advisors that will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.