Cardiac care and Cardio-thoracic surgery and treatment are a specialty in India at hospitals like the Manipal Heart Foundation Bangalore and Indraprastha Apollo Hospital New Delhi. They combine the latest innovations in medical technology with the unsurpassed expertise of leading cardiologists.

These centers have the distinction of providing comprehensive cardiac care, with use of world class technology and performance standards that have set global benchmarks. They also specialize in offering surgical procedures to high risk patients with use of minimally invasive techniques and robotic surgery.

What does a cardiac surgery entail and what kind of recovery is to be expected?

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the most common heart surgery performed on patients with blockages in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Depending on the complexity of surgery performed and the patient's preoperative health status, the patient recovers in the hospital in 4-6 days. Physical Therapy and rehabilitation starts early on and patients usually fully resume their normal activities and lifestyle within 6-8 weeks.

Are the veins taken from the leg during bypass surgery? If so, why?

The purpose of by-pass surgery is to improve blood flow to the heart muscle. The blockages in the artery supplying blood to the heart are not removed. Rather, blood is routed around the blocked areas in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. This entails the use of conduit. Conduits that are available are the veins from the leg, the saphenous vein, the artery from the inside of the chest wall called the internal mammary artery, and occasionally an artery from the forearm, known as the radial artery. Remember, in India, your hospital stay will be longer at less cost to you. You will be closely monitored for days after your surgery by a team of health experts.

What other surgeries are performed for those with end stage heart disease?

Various surgical procedures are routinely performed depending on the individual’s condition. Cardiac bypass and valve repair or replacements are more common procedures. Cardiac transplantation, a promising form of therapy for patients with severe heart failure is also often performed. This is done with use of either mechanical blood pump or donor heart. Mechanical blood pump is planted in patients who are awaiting a heart transplant and could deteriorate prior to the availability of a donor heart. A mechanical blood pump is inserted temporarily. Once a donor heart is available the blood pump is removed and the heart transplant is performed.