Pacemaker Surgery cost in Hyderabad, India

Suppose you’re looking to get a pacemaker procedure (PPI)  done by a cardiologist but are worried about the cost. If you have a slow heart rate, you may have been advised to have a pacemaker surgery. In that case, you may be surprised to learn that it’s much cheaper in India than in many other countries worldwide. Read on to find out how much a pacemaker surgery costs in India and how you can get the procedure done more affordably. The cost of other types of pacemaker-like devices like ICD and CRT are not discussed here.

What is a pacemaker?

 

A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device that generates electrical impulses. The electrical impulses travel through wires that have been surgically placed under your skin and into your heart. The electrical impulses stimulate your heart muscle to contract regularly. Without a pacemaker, your heart would beat too slowly or not at all. A pacemaker will allow you to maintain a normal, active lifestyle with minimal restrictions on physical activity.

Pacemaker contains

1. Battery or pulse generator (sits under the skin below the collar bone)
2. Leads or wires (Travels through a vein from the Battery to the inside of the heart chamber)

A new entrant in the pacemaker family is the Micra device. It is a leadless pacemaker and has a battery and no lead.

What mainly determines the cost of pacemaker surgery?

 

Typically, pacemakers surgery can cost as much as two lakhs to four lakhs Indian rupees. Such a high price isn’t because of a lack of expertise; instead, it’s because medical device companies like Medtronic and St. Jude Medical pass those costs on to their patients. The bulk of the cost for pacemaker surgery is due to device costs and procedure costs.

What is the cost of a single chamber pacemaker in India?

 

The only lead is implanted in the right ventricle in the case of single-chamber pacemakers. It is a basic pacemaker and keeps the heart rate from falling below a specific rate. It does not provide the coordination required between the heart’s upper and lower chambers. But it is inexpensive when compared to a dual-chamber pacemaker.

It can be MRI compatible or MRI  non-compatible, or MR conditional. The advantage of MRI-compatible devices is doing MRI scans is relatively safe.

Factors affecting the cost of a Single Chamber or dual-chamber Permanent Pacemaker Implant

• Hospital preference
• Hospital Position-Corporate vs. semi Govt vs. Govt 
• Cost and type of Single chamber pacemaker device (MRP)

 

• • • • • Single chamber vs. dual chamber

• • • • • MRI condition vs. non-MRI conditional

• • • • • Company – St. Jude or Abbott, Medtronic, biotronik, Boston Scientific

 

• Professional fee of the cardiologist
• Hospital stay period
• Diagnostic tests performed
•  Medications administered (especially antibiotics)

 

This operation will set you back roughly 1. 5 Lakhs to 2.5 lakhs in Indian currency, including procedure, stay, and device charges. 

Most hospitals in India offer single chamber pacemaker implantation as a package for stable patients. The package includes the procedure charges, doctor charges, device charges, and Hospital stay charges. You could get it in semi-private hospitals or government hospitals to save money.

The cost may increase in

1. Patients with multiple comorbidities
2. A patient suffering from HIV, HbsAg, and HCV
3. If a complication arises out of pacemaker surgery ( rare)

St. Jude or Abbott, Medtronic, biotronik, Boston Scientific – which is more affordable?

 

Your treating cardiologist devices the type and company of the device based on his hospital policy and familiarity. Devices from all these devices are mostly priced the same except for minor differences. They all have a similar warranty and customer care support.  

What is the cost of a dual-chamber pacemaker in India?

 

Dual-chamber devices are premium to single-chamber devices. Two leads are implanted, one in the right atrium and another in the right ventricle, in the case of dual-chamber pacemakers. The only cost added to a single chamber pacemaker is an extra cost for the device. Procedure charges, hospital stay charges, doctor charges, and other miscellaneous charges remain the same.

Again, a Dual-chamber pacemaker is done as a package that includes major charges. The package usually starts from 2.5 lakhs and can go up to 4 lakhs depending on the type and cost of the device.

The cost of pacemaker surgery in Government hospitals in India?

 

All pacemakers, including dual-chamber pacemakers, are implanted free of cost in all government hospitals in India.

The cost of a leadless MicraTM pacemaker?

 

MicraTM is the tiniest pacemaker in the world.1 Micra is a leadless pacemaker since it is implanted directly into the heart, unlike other pacemakers that are put in the chest with leads running to the heart.

It is recommended in some patients where there is no possibility of keeping the pacemaker below the collar bone. MicraTM is quite expensive, and the whole procedure may cross ten lakhs in Indian currency.

 

Why Get a Pacemaker Surgery Done?

Pacemaker surgery is needed for symptomatic slow heart rates. When the heart beats slower than normal, it is referred to as bradycardia. symptoms arise out of it, and the pacemaker is needed to relieve those symptoms

Common symptoms of bradycardia are

1. Dizziness

2. Fainting

3. Shortness of breath

4. Swelling in the feet

Indications for Pacemaker surgery are symptomatic patients with low heart rates.

Low heart rate cause can be because of

• Aging-related heart tissue deterioration –the most common cause
• Heart disease or a heart attack can cause tissue damage to the heart conduction system.
• A cardiac abnormality that was evident at birth (congenital heart defect)
• Heart tissue inflammation (myocarditis)
• A cardiac surgery complication (post-CABG or Post valve replacement)

Side effects and risks involved with the procedure

 

Pacemaker surgery can be a risky business. Sometimes, pacemakers are removed after six to twelve months due to complications, including infection and lead-wire malfunction. Fortunately, while severe complications occur—about one in every 3,000 cases—the complication rate for these devices is lower than those of most heart bypass surgeries or stents. 

Is a coronary angiogram required before Pacemaker surgery?

 

A coronary angiogram is needed for adults above 40 years of age to rule out coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is one of the common causes of bradycardia or slow heart rate. Sometimes, fixing Coronary artery disease with stent surgery avoids a pacemaker. The cost of the coronary angiography test will be added to pacemaker surgery. The cost of a coronary angiography test ranges from 15000 to 30000 rupees.

Recovery time after pacemaker surgery, medicines, and diet restrictions

 

The pacemaker surgery recovery time depends on the type of pacemaker, associated heart diseases, and complications during the procedure. For example, if it’s in a single chamber pacemaker, you can usually go home after a few hours if there are no complications. If it’s a double chamber pacemaker, you may need to stay overnight. If any complication arises from the procedure, you will need to stay a few more days. You should expect some pain and soreness after your pacemaker surgery, but most people are back to their regular routine within a few days. Your doctor will talk with you about any special diet restrictions and medicines needed before and after surgery.

 

What payment options for a pacemaker procedure in Hyderabad, India?

 

There are several ways to get your pacemaker surgery done. Insurance companies, many government bodies like CGHS, ECHS, Singareni colonies, and other major companies proved cashless facilities for angiograms in empaneled hospitals. For permanent pacemaker implantation, you will have to pay your Hospital directly, or your company will pay.

Where to Get permanent pacemaker implantation Done in Hyderabad?

 

Dr. Malleswara Rao is a senior interventional cardiologist in Hyderabad. He is an expert in pacemaker surgeries. He successfully performed single chamber and dual chamber pacemaker surgeries (PPI) on many patients.  

What is the cost of a pacemaker surgery at an Asian Vascular hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad?

 

Pacemaker surgery cost in Premier hospital starts from 150000 Indian rupees only. We provide this as a package that includes the device charges also.

Premier hospital have empanelment with insurance companies.