Cardiac Surgery in India: Bypass, Valve Replacement Costs

Cardiac Surgery in India

India stands out as a global leader in cardiac care, delivering bypass and valve surgeries at 70-85% lower costs than USA ($75,000-$150,000), UK (£20,000-£50,000) or Australia (AUD$50,000-$100,000), with success rates matching Mayo or Cleveland Clinic benchmarks thanks to JCI-accredited centres and pioneers like Dr. Devi Shetty. For patients from these high-cost nations facing long NHS waits, insurance gaps or out-of-pocket burdens, India’s hubs like Delhi’s Medanta, Mumbai’s Kokilaben and Bangalore’s Narayana Health offer CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) starting at ₹1.9-3.5 lakh ($2,300-$4,200) and valve replacements from ₹3-5 lakh ($3,600-$6,000), often bundled with ICU stays and rehab. This guide provides a 2026 city-wise breakdown of cardiac surgery costs in India, targeting USA, UK, Australian and Canadian patients weighing medical tourism for open-heart procedures amid domestic affordability crises.

A standard CABG in India averages ₹2.5-3.5 lakh across metros, covering grafts, anaesthesia and 5-7 day hospitalisation, while aortic/mitral valve replacements range ₹3.5-5 lakh using mechanical or tissue valves, with minimally invasive or TAVR options pushing to ₹5-9 lakh for premium tech. Packages frequently include pre-op angiograms, post-op physio and tele-follow-ups to home doctors, making total spends (with flights/hotels) still under Western singles; e.g., Delhi CABG at ₹2.65 lakh vs USA’s $100,000+ represents life-changing savings for working families denied care by pricing. This comparison covers CABG, valve replacement (AVR/MVR), factors like off-pump vs on-pump or robotic, top hospitals and city variations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai—helping you decide if India’s cardiac expertise delivers the smartest path forward.

Why Cardiac Surgery in India Matters

Technology and pricing edge

Indian cardiac centres deploy off-pump beating-heart CABG (avoiding heart-lung machines), TAVR for valves and hybrid ORs with robotics, achieving 98-99% survival matching global standards at fractions of Western costs. CABG pricing holds at ₹1.9-4 lakh despite inflation, as high volumes (India performs 100,000+ annually) drive efficiencies absent in low-case Western setups. Valve work benefits from imported bioprosthetics without markups, keeping AVR/MVR accessible.

Specialist depth and outcomes

Over 1,000 super-specialists trained at AIIMS or abroad staff places like Fortis Escorts (Delhi) or Asian Heart (Mumbai), with 30-day mortality under 1.5% for elective cases—on par with US benchmarks but without $1M bills. India’s scale fosters expertise in complex redo surgeries or combined bypass-valve procedures, drawing patients denied high-risk ops at home.

Geographic access for travellers

Delhi-NCR clusters 50+ cardiac units with Indira Gandhi Airport proximity; Mumbai leverages international hubs for Gulf/Europe flights; Bangalore/Chennai offer southern tech ecosystems—all wired for e-medical visas needing hospital letters. This positioning suits short-stay patients (7-14 days total), with facilitators coordinating seamless handoffs to wellness retreats for cardiac rehab.

Cardiac Procedure Deep-Dives

CABG Costs and Logistics

CABG reroutes blood around blocked arteries using mammary or leg veins, with off-pump variants reducing stroke risk—standard in India at 95% of cases. City-wise 2026 averages: Delhi ₹2.65 lakh, Mumbai ₹2.75 lakh, Bangalore ₹2.9 lakh; includes 3-5 ICU days, grafts and cath follow-up. Expect 4-6 week full recovery; international packages add airport transfers and diet plans for ₹50,000 extra. Surgeons like Dr. Naresh Trehan (Medanta) report 98.5% patency rates.

Practical tips: Pre-arrange angiogram (₹20,000); off-pump suits diabetics (common in India patients).

Heart Valve Replacement Costs

AVR/MVR swaps faulty valves with mechanical (lifelong anticoagulants) or tissue types; TAVR (transcatheter) for high-risk skips open surgery. Pricing: Delhi ₹3.5 lakh average, Mumbai ₹3.5 lakh, Bangalore ₹3.75 lakh; rises 20-50% for double valves or minimally invasive. Bundles cover echo monitoring, warfarin initiation and 7-10 day stays. Outcomes hit 95% 10-year durability with Indian expertise.

Visiting notes: Tissue valves suit elderly avoiding blood thinners; confirm INR follow-up abroad.​

FAQ

How much is CABG surgery in India vs USA?
₹2.5-3.5 lakh ($3,000-$4,200) vs $75,000-$150,000; 75-80% savings with equal outcomes.

What’s included in cardiac surgery packages in India?
Surgeon fees, ICU/HDU stay, grafts/valves, meds, tests, transfers; excludes airfare/visa.

Are Indian cardiac hospitals JCI accredited?
Yes, top like Apollo, Fortis, Narayana hold JCI; verify for your centre.

Valve replacement: mechanical or tissue—which costs more?
Similar base (₹3.5-5L); mechanical cheaper long-term (no reops), tissue avoids thinners.​

Recovery timeline for bypass in India?
Discharge day 5-7; light work 4-6 weeks; full 3 months; tele-follow-ups standard.

Best city for cardiac surgery in India for internationals?
Delhi (volume/expertise), Mumbai (flights), Chennai (value); all excellent.