Mitral Valve Replacement Cost In India - Get Cost Estimate

What is Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Cost in India?

As the rate of cardiac diseases is increasing rapidly, heart valve replacement surgery has become the second most frequently performed type of heart surgery in India. Annually, more than 30,000 heart valve surgeries are conducted, reflecting the significant demand and necessity for these surgical procedures.

The average cost of mitral valve replacement surgery in India ranges between INR 3,50,000 and INR 5,00,000 for Indian patients. For international patients, the cost ranges between USD 8000 and USD 11000. This cost covers the price of the prosthetic valve, surgeon fees, anaesthesia charges, OT charges, medical consumables, and a hospital stay for 3-7 days.

What is Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery?

The role of the heart in the circulation of blood throughout the body is crucial for delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs. Within its two chambers (atria and ventricles), there are flap-like structures known as valves encircled by a ring-like apparatus. These valves are essential for controlling the speed of blood flow and preventing it from flowing backwards. Any complication affecting any of these valves can lead to insufficient blood supply and the intermixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

One of the heart valves is the mitral valve. It maintains blood flow to the left ventricle and ensures that oxygen-rich blood does not flow back into the left atrium.

Some of the most common complications associated with mitral valve are as follows:

Mitral valve regurgitation

In this heart condition, the mitral valve fails to close tightly, leading to backward leakage of blood into the left atrium of the heart instead of flowing forward into the left ventricle. 

These conditions mentioned above can lead to the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath

• Persistent chest pain

• Irregular heartbeat

• Feeling of dizziness followed by fainting

Mitral valve stenosis

In this condition, the mitral valve is unable to open or close properly due to narrowing and stiffness. This stiffening is caused by calcification or some genetic disorder, a condition known as mitral stenosis. 

Mitral valve prolapse/Barlow syndrome

In this condition, the flaps of mitral valves (also called leaflets or cusps) become enlarged or stretched. As the heart contracts, these enlarged flaps bulge out, i.e., prolapse into the left atrium. Due to this, the valve is unable to control the backflow, leading to leakage of blood.

To treat these conditions, cardiac surgeons perform mitral valve replacement surgery. In this procedure, they replace the damaged valve with a prosthetic valve, which can be of two types: mechanical or biological.

Mechanical Valves: These are prepared from artificial materials, usually pyrolite carbon, covered in a polyester knit fabric ring. These mechanical valves are durable and can last a lifetime without needing replacement, but patients with mechanical valves need to take anticoagulants for the rest of their lives to prevent blood clots. 

Prosthetic Valves: These are extracted from biological tissue or animal valves, usually from pigs or cows. It doesn't require lifelong blood-thinning medication. However, they may deteriorate over time and need to be replaced.

What are the Types of Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery?

Depending on the invasiveness of the approach employed by the cardiac surgeon to replace the mitral valve, the mitral valve replacement surgery can be categorised into the following types-

Surgical mitral valve replacement

This is a traditional method in which large incisions are made in the patient's chest to access the mitral heart valve. Then, the damaged mitral valve is replaced with a prosthetic valve. Since it is an open-heart surgery, the cardiac surgeon visualises the inside of the heart directly and then performs the surgery.

Minimal invasive mitral valve replacement

In this technique, the cardiac surgeons create minimal incisions to carry out the process of mitral valve replacement surgery. Small incisions take less time to recover and due to minimal exposure, the chances of infection also reduces.

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement/implantation

This is an advanced and highly effective minimal-invasive technique in which a cardiac surgeon inserts a catheter into the heart via which the prosthetic valve is inserted there, pushing the damaged valve at the back.

What are the Key Factors That Affect the Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Cost in India?

The cost factors associated with mitral valve replacement surgery help cardiac patients and their families plan the treatment, analyse cost-saving strategies, and manage the risk of any sudden financial necessity resulting from immediate medical needs.

The key factors affecting the mitral valve replacement cost in India are listed below.

Type of prosthetic valve used 

The cost associated with the mitral valve replacement surgery procedure may vary based on the selection of valve type, including options like mechanical or biological valves. Certain valves may be costly due to their particular design, like self-expandable or balloon-expandable models, or due to advanced technology associated with them. In transcatheter mitral valve implantation (TMVI), a biological prosthetic valve is typically employed.

Hospital reputation and cardiac surgeon expertise

The hospital's reputation in providing the best medical care may impact the cost of mitral valve replacement surgery. Top hospitals provide better services that may add some expenses to the overall treatment. At the same time, cardiac surgeons at top hospitals may charge extra fees because of their high skill and expertise in this field. 

Additional stay at hospital/ICU

Some cardiac complexities may require additional care at the hospital for which the patient needs to stay for some additional days in the hospital or ICU for post-operative care. This additional hospital stay costs around INR 12,000 and INR 20,000 (USD 200 to USD 300) on a per-day basis.

What are the Costs Associated with Mitral Valve Replacement Before and After the Procedure?

Before mitral valve replacement, cardiac surgeons perform various tests and examinations to determine the extent of the damage caused to the mitral valve. If the damage can’t be repaired, the valve has to be replaced. Once the damage valve has been replaced, follow-ups are necessary to ensure that the prosthetic valve is functioning efficiently. These affect costs of mitral valve replacement surgery in India and should be overlooked by the patients and their families for proper financial planning in medical care..

• Pre-procedural examination cost (complete blood count, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, coronary angiography, CT scan, heart cath, nuclear stress test, etc.): INR 15,000 to INR 20,000 (USD 300 to USD 400)

• Post-procedural cost (follow-up consultations and medications): INR 3,000 to INR 4,000 (USD 50 to USD 100)

What should Post-Mitral Valve Replacement Care be?

Now that a patient is surviving on a prosthetic valve that has replaced the naturally present valve, the risk of infection and certain complexities increases. Even the performance efficiency of the replacement valve should be monitored in the first few weeks. Any complication should be immediately reported to the cardiac surgeon because the success of the mitral valve replacement surgery depends significantly on the post-surgical care the patients receive. 

Here are some steps that should be followed for post-mitral valve surgery care:

Regular follow-ups

After mitral valve replacement surgery, patients must regularly visit their healthcare provider and strictly follow their instructions. This helps detect any complications that may arise and require immediate intervention, allowing the patient to lead a healthy life.

Limitations on physical activities

The patient needs enough time to heal and adjust to the changes in the cardiac muscles caused by the prosthetic implant. Hence, during the initial phase of recovery, strenuous activities such as heavy lifting and gym work should be avoided. 

Monitor for any signs of infection

In some patients, infection-causing bacteria reach the prosthetic valve through the bloodstream and lead to prosthetic valve endocarditis. In this condition, a cardiac surgeon suggests an antibiotic course to treat the bacterial infection. Any further discomfort should be reported to the doctor. 

Attend Cardiac Rehabilitation 

Cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to support heart patients in their recovery from mitral valve replacement surgery and to improve their cardiovascular health. With supervised exercise sessions and personalised dietary guidance provided during the sessions, the patients recovers on time with lowered chances of future heart complications.

Does Insurance Cover Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery in India?

Health insurance policies in India typically cover cardiac surgeries, including procedures like mitral valve replacement. Once your cardiac surgeon recommends this surgery, you'll need to submit your doctor's prescription, examination reports, and hospital documents to your insurance provider along with your policy papers. The insurance agency will review your eligibility for the claim. Once approved, they will coordinate with the hospital to cover medical expenses based on their policy terms.

Generally, health insurance policies often cover a portion or all of the expenses associated with mitral valve replacement surgery. This includes the cost of the prosthetic valve to be implanted, hospitalisation charges, surgeon fees, pre-operative tests, and post-operative care.

Hence, it's crucial to understand the scope of insurance coverage and their hospital network. Otherwise, you may have to bear the remaining costs yourself or look for some alternative financial sources.