Ventricular Septal Defect, or VSD, is a congenital heart defect in which a person has a hole in the heart. In this disorder, the hole in the wall of the heart divides the lower chambers of a patient’s heart. To correct this defect, Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery is adopted. The hole disrupts the flow of blood in the body, and the blood flows abnormally from the left to right ventricles. This defect generally arrives at the time of birth.
However, a small ventricular septal defect may not cause problems, and many close by themselves. But medium or large VSD may require early surgical repair to avoid any complications in the future. As the VSD surgery is severe, it requires heavy expenses too also like ASD surgery The average cost of the Ventricular Septal defect surgery in countries like Kenya is $13000. However, the average cost of VSD surgery in India is $4500. Follow the write-up to know more about it.
What is VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect)?
Ventricular Septal Defect occurs when the wall separating the two lower heart chambers remains open during birth. It results in low oxygen content in the body, which can be deadly in cases if not treated on time. It is a very common heart defect, mostly found in newborns.
Symptoms of VSD –
The symptoms of VSD may vary from one person to another. Although the most common symptoms often seen in a patient include –
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Breathing difficulties such as heavy, rapid, or congested breathing.
- No weight gain
- No interest in getting feed
How is VSD diagnosed, and what is its cost?
Since the symptoms of the VSD do not appear until it reaches the advanced stage, it is essential to undergo a routine test to know the risk level of your treatment. The doctor suggests few rests after identifying the risk level, which includes the following-
- X-ray of the chest: The chest x-ray is the first thing a doctor does before the treatment. It helps them identify the presence of calcium in your blood vessels or heart. Generally, the cost of a chest x-ray starts from Rs.752 to Rs.7000, depending on the hospital you visit. As every healthcare institution has its price range.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): The second step of the diagnosis identifies your heart’s rhythm along with the electrical activity. It is one of the fastest tests to identify heart disease signs. The cost of the Electrocardiogram test starts from Rs. 150 to Rs. 900 in India.
- Echocardiography: An echocardiography is a test that uses the ultrasound method to evaluate or diagnose the action of your heart by creating its picture on the monitor’s screen. The test uses sound waves to draw a picture of your heart, allowing the doctors to see your pumping blood and heartbeat. The cost of the echocardiography test range from Rs. 2244 to Rs. 4000.
- Cardiac catheterization: This test is performed in rare cases to identify the amount of blood flow. In this process, a thin tube guides the heart through blood vessels to diagnose or treat some heart conditions.
What happens before and during surgery, and what does the VSD surgery cost?
A patient must stop certain medications, such as aspirin, before undergoing the VSD closure surgery to minimize the risk associated with the treatment. Before the surgery, a patient must undergo diagnostic and physical tests, including a chest x-ray and electrocardiogram. The patient is admitted one day before the surgery and is not allowed to eat anything. At the same time, the patient’s family members need to fill out the admission consent form and pay the fees of the surgery, which generally start from 2.3-3.5 lacs. In contrast, in government hospitals, the VSD surgery cost is less expensive, i.e., 1 lac to 1.5 lac, including all the necessary equipment for the treatment.
After that, the patient is given anesthesia before the surgery to remain unconscious and not experience any pain at the time of treatment.
The surgeon cuts the patient’s chest, exposing the heart during the surgical procedure. “The procedure generally lasts 2-3 hours in which the surgery is conducted on a non-beating heart”. At this time, an artificial heart-lung bypass machine is used to take over the normal function of the patient’s heart.
The surgeon then locates VSD on the patient’s heart and closes it through the special patch. The heart is made to function until the VSD closes. In the end, the surgeon detaches the heart-lung machine from the patient and closes the incision of the skin.
What is the success rate of this surgery?
“The VSD surgery success rate in India has been 94% in the last 40 years of its adaptation. The remaining 6% percent of patients are those who witnessed small leaks around the patch and thus required reoperation”.
Summary
Now that you have understood the cause and symptoms of VSD, you can easily identify when to diagnose and look for VSD surgery. As India is a healthcare hub, it has a higher VSD Surgery success rate than other countries. First, though, if you are searching for the cost associated with the disease, you can read the details mentioned above, including the cost of diagnosis and treatment. After the completion of the procedure, a patient is sent into recovery for at least 5 days. Hence, a person needs to stay a minimum of 5-7 days under the care of the healthcare providers.
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