Norwood procedure Cost in India

The cost of the Norwood procedure in India typically ranges from $1,500 to $7,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

The Norwood procedure is the first stage of surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and some other single ventricle conditions. It is done in the first days of life. The cost usually depends on:

• Newborn intensive care: often for an extended period.
• Type of shunt: a shunt or a conduit from the right ventricle to the lungs.
• Complications: which can extend the hospital stay.
• Further stages: the Glenn and Fontan operations are separate.

The Norwood is the first of several operations. Ask whether later stages and intensive care are included.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne explains that in HLHS, the left side of the heart is too small to pump blood to the body. The right ventricle has to do the work of both sides.

Without treatment, HLHS is not survivable. Treatment usually involves three operations over the first few years of life.

In the Norwood operation, the surgeon builds a new main artery to the body using the pulmonary artery and reconstructs the aortic arch. Blood flow to the lungs is supplied by a shunt or a conduit from the right ventricle.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne describes this stage as being done in the first days of life, followed by the Glenn at around 3 months and the Fontan at around 4 to 5 years.

The Norwood is one of the highest-risk operations in children's heart surgery. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne reports that up to 3 in 10 babies die between the first and second stages, and about 4 in 10 do not survive to age 10.

Babies need close monitoring at home between stages, and families are usually given guidance on warning signs such as poor feeding or changes in colour.