What is Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR)?
Aortic Valve Replacement is a life‑saving procedure for severe aortic stenosis or regurgitation, conditions that obstruct blood flow from the heart’s left ventricle to the aorta. It restores normal circulation, relieving symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, and breathlessness, and can raise one‑year survival to > 95 %.
Two main approaches are available:
- Conventional open‑heart surgery – the diseased valve is removed through a chest incision and replaced with a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve.
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR/TAVI) – a catheter‑based technique (usually via the femoral artery) that positions a new valve without opening the chest, offering shorter recovery and lower risk for older or high‑risk patients.
Choice of technique depends on age, overall health, valve anatomy, and the need for lifelong anticoagulation (mechanical valves) versus future re‑intervention (bioprosthetic valves).
Why Choose India for Aortic Valve Replacement?
India—especially Delhi and NCR Tier 1 private hospitals such as Apollo Hospitals (Delhi), Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Max Super Speciality Hospital (Saket), and Medanta-The Medicity (Gurugram)—has become a hub for AVR because:
- International‑standard outcomes: experienced cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists trained in the UK/US/EU perform both open AVR and high‑volume TAVR.
- State‑of‑the‑art technology: hybrid cath‑labs, 3‑D imaging, indigenous TAVR valves like MyVal that cut device costs.
- Cost advantage: the complete procedure (valve, surgery, hospital care) costs USD 7,000 – 10,000, versus USD 40,000 + in the US, with no compromise on safety or quality.
- Streamlined care for internationals: visa support, English‑speaking coordinators, and cardiac rehabilitation programs that let patients fly home sooner while remaining under remote follow‑up.
Cost & Duration Summary
Average Cost in India: USD 7,000 – 10,000
Hospital Stay Required: 5 – 10 days
Post‑Treatment Stay in India: 2 – 4 weeks (for follow‑ups & recovery)