Pulmonary Endarterectomy Cost in India

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

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is major heart and lung surgery to remove old, scarred clot material from the lung arteries. It treats chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The cost usually depends on:

• Specialist assessment: scans and heart catheter tests to check whether the disease can be operated on.
• Surgery on bypass: with deep cooling of the body.
• Intensive care: usually for a few days.
• Hospital stay and follow-up: often around two weeks in hospital.

PEA is a highly specialised operation offered in few centres. Ask for a quote that includes intensive care.

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust explains that in CTEPH, clots in the lung arteries do not dissolve and turn into scar tissue. This narrows the arteries and raises pressure in the lungs.

PEA can be potentially curative, but only disease in the larger, nearer arteries can be removed surgically. Medicines or other treatments may be offered if surgery is not suitable.

According to the Royal Papworth booklet:

• Heart-lung bypass: the heart and lung function is taken over by a machine.
• Cooling: the body is cooled to about 20°C, with short periods when the circulation is stopped.
• Clearing the arteries: scar material is removed from one lung at a time.
• Time in theatre: about 8 to 10 hours.

Royal Papworth reports that more than 97% of patients survive the operation and go home, and that about 7 in 10 patients spend 1 to 3 days in critical care. The average hospital stay is 10 to 14 days.

Possible complications include bleeding, fluid around the heart, kidney injury, lung injury after blood flow returns (reperfusion injury), remaining high lung pressure and irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).