Affordable Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in India: A Lifeline for African Patients

Pediatric cardiac conditions can be life-threatening and emotionally challenging for families. For many African patients, accessing specialized medical treatments like pediatric cardiac surgery can be financially burdensome. However, India has emerged as a beacon of hope for these families, providing affordable and high-quality healthcare options, particularly in the field of pediatric cardiac surgery. In this blog, we will explore why India has become a preferred destination for African patients seeking affordable pediatric cardiac surgery and the benefits it offers to families in need.

1. The expertise of Indian Medical Professionals

India boasts a pool of highly skilled and experienced medical professionals, including pediatric cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and support staff. These experts have trained at some of the world's best medical institutions and have extensive experience in treating various congenital heart conditions in children. Their expertise, combined with state-of-the-art medical facilities, ensures the best possible outcomes for young patients.

2. Cost-Effective Medical Treatments

One of the primary reasons African patients seek pediatric cardiac surgery in India is the cost-effectiveness of treatments. Compared to developed countries, the cost of medical procedures in India is significantly lower. This affordability factor does not compromise the quality of care; instead, it allows families to access top-notch medical services without enduring overwhelming financial burdens.

3. World-Class Hospitals and Facilities

India is home to numerous internationally accredited hospitals that specialize in pediatric cardiac care. These hospitals are equipped with cutting-edge technology, advanced diagnostic tools, and state-of-the-art operating rooms, ensuring that patients receive the best available treatment. Additionally, many Indian hospitals have dedicated pediatric cardiac care units with a compassionate approach, creating a supportive environment for both children and their families.

4. Multilingual and Multicultural Support

India is a diverse and multicultural country, with a significant number of languages spoken across the nation. Many healthcare providers in India are well-versed in multiple languages, including English, making it easier for African patients to communicate effectively with their doctors and caregivers. This cultural understanding and sensitivity play a vital role in providing personalized care to patients from different backgrounds.

5. Streamlined Medical Visa Process

The Indian government has taken steps to streamline the medical visa process for international patients, making it relatively straightforward for African families to travel to India for treatment. Hospitals often assist in the visa application process, facilitating smooth entry into the country and ensuring that families can focus on their child's treatment without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

6. Supportive Accommodation and Travel Options

Many hospitals in India offer affordable accommodation options for families of pediatric cardiac patients. Additionally, the hospital staff can help arrange local transportation and suggest nearby places for essential needs, making the stay as comfortable as possible during the treatment period.

Conclusion

Pediatric cardiac surgery is a specialized field that demands the highest level of medical expertise and care. India's emergence as an affordable and reliable destination for African patients seeking pediatric cardiac surgery has been a boon for families facing the burden of congenital heart conditions. The combination of skilled medical professionals, world-class facilities, cost-effective treatments, and a supportive environment makes India a lifeline for many African patients, offering hope and healing for their precious children.

Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery in India

Hospitals in India have a success rate of between 98 to 99% for heart surgery in India Heart surgery in India is performed by cardiac surgeons of great experience, in terms of both number of surgeries, diversity of procedures and complexity of heart conditions This experience is built on top of the outstanding academic qualifications of heart surgeons in India.

Sometimes heart surgery in children is required for repairing defects in the heart which a child might have born with (known as congenital heart defects) and heart diseases which he gets after birth, which require surgery. Pediatric Cardiac Surgery deals with operative procedures in the newborn and unborn children and youngsters suffering from cardiac dysfunctions, structural, functional and rhythm-related issues of the heart also.

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery often deals with heart problems in children, the cause of congenital heart diseases which are common heart ailments among new born children and involves deficiencies like structural defects, congenital arrythmias and cardiomyopathies, which result in different kinds of abnormalities related to the heart. Congenital heart disease is a cause of improper growth of the heart or blood vessels before birth.

Pediatric Cardiology Facilities

The Paediatric cardiology department of any hospital offers all non-invasive diagnostic and paediatric cardiac interventional services. The diagnostic modalities are inclusive of foetal echocardiography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, round the clock Holter, CT and MR angiography as well as diagnostic cardiac catheterisation. Cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists and other specialists work closely together to care for newborn as well as unborn children suffering from cardio-vascular disorders who provide exceptional pre and post operative services.

Pediatric heart surgery often deals with cases of congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease is a common heart ailment among new born children and involves deficiencies like structural defects, congenital arrythmias and cardiomyopathies. This leads to different kinds of abnormalities related to theheart. Congenital heart disease is a cause of improper growth of the heart or blood vessels before birth. Pediatric heart surgery deals with operative procedures dealing with newborn and unborn children and youngsters suffering from cardiac dysfunctions.

Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery in India

There are a number of Pediatric Cardiology Surgeries such as balloon atrial septostomy, Valvuloplasty/Angioplasty, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Ventricular Septal Defect and Atrial Septal Defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, Double Outlet Right Ventricle etc. The major ones are:

Balloon Atrial Septostomy (BAS) : This technique, also known as the Rashkind procedure used for enlarging a hole between the right atrium and the left atrium. It is often used to manage patients with transposition of the great arteries. Here the larger hole improves oxygenation of the blood.

Valvuloplasty/Angioplasty : Valvuloplasty is that process where a small balloon is inserted and inflated for stretching and opening a narrowed (stenosed) heart valve. On the other hand, angioplasty is a non-surgical process which can be used for opening blocked heart arteries.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus : This is a kind of defect in infants where vessel (the ductus arteriosus) fails to close soon after birth which results in abnormal blood flow, between the pulmonary artery and aorta, which takes the blood from the heart to the lungs and to the rest of the body. To treat it, an incision is made under the chest through which tubes are inserted to regulate the flow of blood supply.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) : Both of these are congenital defects. In ASD, the wall that separates the upper heart chambers (atria) does not close completely. The surgery here involves a placement of an ASD device into the heart through catheters, which is inserted by making a tiny incision in the groin area. While in VSD, happens at the time of birth. It is explained as one or more holes in the wall that separates the right and left ventricle of the heart. In pre-natal stages, the right and left ventricles of a heart are not separate. As the fetus grows, a wall is formed for separating the two ventricles but if the wall does not form completely, a hole remains. This can be treated by inserting cardiac catheterization.

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) : Another congenital heart defect, it is a constellation of four abnormalities, which result in insufficient oxygen in the blood. In this case, a surgery is needed for restoring these defects which are caused, main; paid at the time when the infant is young.

The cost of heart surgery in India is perhaps the lowest in the world Some comparisons show that patients in the USA can save 90 per cent of the treatment cost by having their heart surgery in India. The cost of heart treatment in India is also very much cheaper compared with Thailand, Singapore, etc which also attract medical tourists.

India’s hospitals have world-class cardiac catheterisation labs for diagnosis of heart diseases and performance of angiograms and angioplasties They also have state-of-the-art operation theatres that enable safe and successful heart surgery in India.”

Most Advanced Techniques used for fixing Congenital Defects of the Heart in Children

Common Types of Pediatric Congenital Heart Defects

Septal defects

A septal defect is a hole in the septum, the wall that divides the heart. There are two types of septal defects: atrial septal defects (ASDs) are holes in the septum between the left and the right atria; ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are holes in the septum between the left and right ventricles. Because of this hole, oxygenated blood mixes with non-oxygenated blood.

A septal defect means that blood flows from one chamber of the heart to the other, instead of taking its normal path. For instance, with an atrial septal defect, blood flows from one atrium to the other, instead of going to the ventricle.

Similarly, with a VSD, the blood flows from the left ventricle to the right ventricle, rather than through its normal path to the aorta and the rest of the body. As a result, blood that has picked up oxygen from the lungs mixes with oxygen-poor blood. This can mean that parts of the body aren’t getting enough oxygenated blood.

ASDs and VSDs can be small or large. Some ASDs close up on their own as the child grows older. Others may be repaired using catheters or with open heart surgery.

Although some small VSDs may close on their own, some are so large that the left side of the heart is forced to work much harder. If it is not treated, a VSD can lead to heart failure. These defects have to be repaired with open heart surgery.

Valve defects

Another type of defect involves the heart valves. Defective valves may be caused by:

• Stenosis (narrowing) — the valve is not able to open completely. As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through it.
• Regurgitation — The valve does not close correctly and allows blood to leak backward.
• Atresia — the valve is missing a hole for the blood to pass through. This is considered a more complex defect.

Pulmonary valve stenosis is the most common valve defect. In this defect, the flaps of the pulmonary valve don’t work properly—they are too thick, or they become stiff, or even fuse together, making it difficult for the blood to move to the lung via the pulmonary artery.

Children who have a pulmonary valve stenosis may have a heart murmur, an irregular sound heard during a heartbeat. Children who are born with a severe pulmonary valve stenosis may have such symptoms as fatigue, breathing problems, and trouble eating.

Pulmonary valve stenosis may also be accompanied by other defects, such as an ASD or patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). The ductus arteriosis is a blood vessel in the fetus that connects the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The ductus arteriosis usually closes within minutes or days of birth; if it does not close, it is called a patent (open) ductus arteriosis (PDA).

A PDA lets oxygenated blood and deoxygenated blood mix and puts pressure on lung arteries. In the event of certain heart defects, doctors might choose to keep the PDA open until surgery to correct other blood flow defects can be done.

Stenosis can also affect the aortic valve. If this valve cannot open or close properly, blood may leak or pool. This can increase pressure on the heart and cause heart damage. A balloon catheter procedure might be performed in order to widen the valve and increase the blood flow.

Other types of congenital heart defects

• Coarctation of the aorta — This defect happens when the aorta narrows and prevents blood from flowing freely to the lower part of the body. Coarctation of the aorta can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart damage. Surgery or balloon catheterization in selected cases can be used to correct this problem.
• Complete atrioventricular canal defect (CAVC) — The heart has a hole in all four chambers in the spot where the chambers would normally be divided. Symptoms may not appear until the baby is several weeks old; infants may have trouble breathing, eating, and growing. This defect can be corrected with surgery.
• D-transposition of the great arteries — The positions of the pulmonary artery and the aorta are reversed. The blood flow to either the body or the lungs is interrupted. Surgery is needed to fix this problem.
• Ebstein’s anomaly — The tricuspid valve does not work as it should and allows blood to leak back into the upper chambers of the heart from the lower pumping chambers. This defect often occurs along with an ASD. Ebstein’s anomaly may be mild enough to never require surgery. In some cases, however, it may cause cyanosis (the skin turns blue because of a lack of oxygen) or heart failure.
• Single ventricle defects — These include hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum, and tricuspid atresia:
  • In hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. Without treatment, the baby will usually die. Treatment might include a series of heart operations or a heart transplant.
  • In pulmonary atresia, the pulmonary valve has become narrowed or blocked. Blood can only get to the lungs through openings that usually close as the baby gets older.
  • In tricuspid atresia, there is no tricuspid valve. Blood has to circulate through an ASD. Surgery is necessary to repair these defects.
• Tetralogy of Fallot — This defect combines four problems: a ventricular septal defect; pulmonary stenosis (a blockage between the heart and the lungs); right ventricular hypertrophy (the muscle around the lower right chamber of the heart is enlarged); and the aorta is in the wrong position (over both ventricles, instead of just the left ventricle). Surgery is needed to correct this defect.
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection — The veins from the lungs connect to the heart in the wrong place and let oxygenated blood into the wrong heart chamber. This defect requires open heart surgery early in infancy.
• Truncus arteriosis — This defect occurs when there is one large artery instead of the usual two separate ones to carry blood to the body and the lungs. Surgery is needed to close the VSD and to add another tube to act as the second artery.

What are the symptoms of pediatric congenital heart disease?

Often, there are no symptoms associated with these defects. The defects are usually found during routine physical examinations. In cases where there are symptoms, they may include:

• Trouble breathing
• Bluish tones to the skin (cyanosis)
• Poor eating habits
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Swelling in the abdomen or around the eyes
• Rapid heartbeat

How are pediatric congenital heart defects diagnosed?

Tests to diagnose heart defects might include:

• Physical examination, including listening to the heart with a stethoscope
• Chest X-ray
• Electrocardiogram to test heart rate patterns
• Echocardiogram (takes pictures of the heart using sound waves)
• Cardiac catheterization (a thin tube is inserted through a vein into the heart to obtain details on heart function)

Some defects can be diagnosed while the baby is still developing in the womb.

What causes pediatric congenital heart defects?

In most cases, the reasons defects happen are not known, but some connections have been identified:

• Women who get German measles (rubella) during their first trimester of pregnancy have a higher risk of having a baby with a congenital heart defect.
• The risk may also be higher if the woman has some types of viral infections, is exposed to industrial solvents, takes certain kinds of medications, drinks alcohol, or uses cocaine while pregnant.
• Women who have given birth to a child with a congenital heart defect are at higher risk of giving birth to another child with a heart defect.