Heart Bypass Surgery Cost in Turkey

What is Heart Bypass Surgery Cost in Turkey?

Heart bypass surgery is a common surgical procedure in Turkey. According to data provided by Turkey Statistical Institute (TSI), ischemic heart diseases accounted for 39.1% of all deaths in 2019, thus necessitating heart bypass surgery in Turkey.

The average cost of heart bypass surgery in Turkey ranges between USD 27000 and USD 29000. This cost includes surgeon fees, anaesthesia charges, OT charges, medical consumables, and hospital stays for 6-8 days.

What is Heart Bypass Surgery?

Due to high cholesterol levels in the body, fatty substances known as plaques get deposited on the walls of the blood vessels in the heart (atherosclerosis). In this condition, the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle gets limited, giving rise to a fatal condition known as coronary artery disease (CAD).

Some common symptoms of CAD are:

• Angina (chest pain)
• Extreme fatigue
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Swelling in the hands and feet

To address this condition, the patient requires heart bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During this procedure, surgeons create a new pathway for blood flow to the heart by using blood vessels from the patient's legs or wrists.

Heart bypass surgery is suggested when less invasive treatments such as angioplasty and stent placement have not sufficiently alleviated symptoms caused as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD).

What are the Types of Heart Bypass Surgery?

The cardiac surgeons choose the best surgical methods for each patient, considering their health and any potential problems. Here are some of the surgical procedures performed by cardiac surgeons in Turkey.

Some of the surgical procedures to treat heart conditions are-

On-pump surgery

It is a surgical procedure in which a pump called a cardiopulmonary machine is used. It mimics the function of the heart and lungs of the cardiac patient. The machine delivers oxygenated blood throughout the body and brain while the cardiac surgeon is performing the bypass.

Off-pump CABG/Closed Heart Bypass surgery

In this surgery,  the cardiac surgeon directly performs surgery on the beating heart, reducing the chances of bleeding and heart stroke during and post-surgery. 

Some examples of minimally invasive techniques are keyhole bypass surgery and robotic bypass surgery.

What are the Key Factors That Affect the Heart Bypass Surgery Cost in Turkey?

When suffering from CAD, it becomes crucial to see a cardiac surgeon and get the proper treatment on time. 

An individual's health status determines the surgical procedure to be performed, which may impact the expenses. Following are some factors affecting the cost of heart bypass surgery in Turkey:

The type of surgery involved

On-pump and off-pump heart surgery use less complicated machines and are hence less expensive than advanced technology such as robotic surgery. The average cost of different types of heart surgeries in Turkey is listed below.

Hospital stay

The duration of hospital stay post-surgery may add additional expenses to the overall cost. 

Location of the hospital

Hospitals located in major cities like Istanbul often have higher surgery costs due to higher rent, utility bills, and labour expenses. These costs can be passed on to patients, resulting in slightly higher treatment fees.

Additional stay at hospital/ICU

In certain medical complexities, the patient may have to stay for some extra days in the hospital or ICU for post-operative care. Thus, the additional hospital stay costs around USD 200 to USD 300 per day.

What is the Heart Bypass Surgery Average Cost in Turkey Vs. Other Countries?

What are Pre-surgical and Post-surgical Expenses in Heart Bypass Surgery?

Some essential tests and follow-ups are required to plan and monitor the heart bypass surgery, which may incur additional expenses. It can be classified as:

• Pre-surgical examination cost (complete blood count, electrocardiogram, coronary angiography, CT scan, nuclear stress test, etc.): USD 300 to USD 400
• Post-surgery cost (follow-up consultations with the doctor and other medications): USD 250 to USD 300

What should be Post-surgery Care?

Since recovery after heart bypass surgery is a gradual process and hence patients require lots of care and monitoring to recover completely post-surgery. Extra care ensures that the patient starts feeling better with time. 

Here are some of the measures that the patients may follow soon after the surgery.

Taking care of the incision

Patients should ensure the stitches and wound heal without infection. During the healing process, it's advisable to take brief showers lasting no more than 10 minutes.

Cardiac rehabilitation

Many hospitals offer post-surgery rehabilitation programs that provide exercise training and other measures to improve heart health.

Lifestyle changes

In order to reduce further risks and complications to the heart, doctors provide measures and advise the patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle which includes:

• Exercise regularly
• Quit smoking and drinking
• Maintain a healthy diet and body weight
• Take a good amount of sleep