Congenital Heart Disorder (CHD) Treatment Cost in India

Symptoms for Detecting Congenital Heart Defects

Many congenital heart defects cause few or no signs and symptoms. Few of the signs and symptoms of severe defects in new-borns include: 

• Rapid breathing
• Fatigue
• Cyanosis : Bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails
• Poor blood circulation

Medical Test /Diagnosis for Congenital Heart Disorder Treatment

If the doctor suspects a CHD, then a general physical examination is done. In this the doctor  

• Listen to the child's heart and lungs with the help of stethoscope
• Look for signs of a heart defect, such as cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, or fingernails)
• Looks for any shortness of breath, rapid breathing, delayed growth, or signs of heart failure

After the physical examination is done, following investigations are performed:

• EKG (Electrocardiogram)
• Fetal echocardiogram 
• Echocardiogram
• Chest X-Ray 
• Pulse oximetry
• Cardiac catheterization

Treatment for Congenital Heart Disorder

Most of the children suffering from congenital heart defects don't require treatment, but some may. The treatment will depend on the type and severity of the heart defect. Other factors are child's age, size, and general health. The common procedures performed to treat CHD are  

• Catheter procedures 
• Surgery

Catheter Procedure for Congenital Heart Disorder

Catheter procedures are mostly much easier on patients, then surgery. CHD can be repaired by using the catheterization techniques, which allow the repair tobe done without any surgical opening of the chest and heart.This procedure involve the use of only a needle. A puncture is made in the skin where the catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted into a vein or an artery.

Once the catheter is placed at the site of the defect, tiny tools are threaded through the catheter to the heart to repair the defect. Catheter procedures canoften be used to fix holes or areas of narrowing.

Surgery for Congenital Heart Disorder

A child may require an open-heart surgery if his or her heart defect can't be fixed be the catheter procedure. At times one surgery is not enough to repair the defect completely. In that case, the child may require more surgeries over months or years to fix the problem completely.

Open-Heart surgery is performed to:

• Close the holes in the heart wall, with stitches or a patch
• Repair or replace heart valves
• Widen the arteries or openings to heart valves
• Repair complex defects, such as problems with the location of blood vessels near the heart or how they are formed.

Read: What are the treatments and therapies for congenital heart defects?

Procedure: 

• Surgery requires stopping the heart temporarily and using a heart-lung machine to circulate the blood throughout the body during surgery. 
• Open heart surgery: In this procedure the surgeon needs to open the chest.  
• Minimally invasive surgery :  Surgeons make small tiny holes in the chest wall and can operate through the ribs 

The surgical procedures are major medical procedures and may require a significant recovery time for the child.

Heart Transplant

If a serious heart defect can't be repaired by the surgical procedure, then a heart transplant may be suggested. 

Medications for Congenital Heart Disorder

If mild congenital heart defects are present, specifically those that are found later in childhood or adulthood, then they can be treated with medications. This will help the heart work more efficiently. There are times when congenital heart defects can't be operated on, or can't be completely repaired. In these cases, medication can be an option.

Know more about Care and Treatment for Congenital Heart Defects.

Factors Affecting the Treatment Cost of Congenital Heart Disorder

Following are the factors which will affect the treatment cost: 

• The hospital patient is opting for.
• Room –Standard single room, deluxe room, super deluxe room for the number of nights specified (including nursing fee, meals, room rate, and room service).
• Operating room, ICU
• Fee for the team of doctors (Surgeons, Anesthesist, Physiotherapist, Dietician )
• Medicines
• Standard test and diagnostic procedures
• Cost of valve or cost of heart transplant
• Cost of the follow –up care which is required after the procedure.