angiography in kolkata

[moktan]

dear forum members in kolkata
a family member needs to get an angiography done. i made inquiries with some of the hospitals.
to my surprise i found huge differences in the price of the packages offered by various medical facilities.
for example:
(i) http://www.desunhospital.com/index.php
Desun Hospital quotes Rs7000/- for angiography and Rs70,000/- for angioplasty with 1 stent. These prices were confirmed when the hospital was called.
(ii) http://www.birlaheart.org/
BM Birla rates were Rs21000/- for angiography and Rs150000/- minimum for angioplasty. These prices too were obtained after making the necessary calls.
i know this is an audiophile website.yet the fund of knowledge that forum members have is unparalleled. their willingness to share it even more profound.
will we be compromising on something significant if we choose the cheaper option? Any forum members having knowledge/experience of Desun Hospital?
thanks in advance

 

[Audiodoc]

As a doctor I can give you some brief advice.

Angiography is a diagnostic procedure, coronary angiography is used to check the patency of vessels of heart. 7000 is a great deal as you will call on this forum. They will insert a catheter, mostly through an artery in the thigh up the aorta and inject dye into the vessels of the heart.

If they find any occlusion greater than 70 percent they will advice to insert a stent. Stents are like audio low end like stainless steel or high end like drug eluting stents termed as DES by cardiologists. The low end ones cost 40000 while the high end ones can cost upto 2 lacs. Now the total price will depend on.

Number of stents, type of stent, hospital hype and the charging cardiologist. After all it takes at least eleven years for a student who enters mbbs to be one!

My suggestion if there is single or double vessel disease go for the drug eluting stents. And more importantly take you blood thinning drugs, aspirin or clopedogrel regularly.

In case of triple vessel disease or left main coronary artery disease go for bypass surgery.

 

[moktan]

As a doctor I can give you some brief advice.

Angiography is a diagnostic procedure, coronary angiography is used to check the patency of vessels of heart. 7000 is a great deal as you will call on this forum. They will insert a catheter, mostly through an artery in the thigh up the aorta and inject dye into the vessels of the heart.

If they find any occlusion greater than 70 percent they will advice to insert a stent. Stents are like audio low end like stainless steel or high end like drug eluting stents termed as DES by cardiologists. The low end ones cost 40000 while the high end ones can cost upto 2 lacs. Now the total price will depend on.

Number of stents, type of stent, hospital hype and the charging cardiologist. After all it takes at least eleven years for a student who enters mbbs to be one!

My suggestion if there is single or double vessel disease go for the drug eluting stents. And more importantly take you blood thinning drugs, aspirin or clopedogrel regularly.

In case of triple vessel disease or left main coronary artery disease go for bypass surgery.

Thank you very much for this cost (and more importantly life) saving explanation.
I am sure other members too were benefited by it.
The cost difference seems to be mainly due to the 'hospital hype and charging cardiologist' factor that you so aptly mentioned.
DESUN hospital just confirmed that the total package cost of angiography and angioplasty with 1 drug eluting stent would cost around 1.25L ('with no hidden charges' the voice at the other end of the line reassured).
the 70K mentioned earlier was apparently for the stainless steel stent.
Anyway we are taking further opinion from cardiologists and hopefully will be able to make up our minds with practical wisdom and thinking ability.
Thanks once again for your kind intervention and information.

 

[jaudere]

One important thing. Some hospitals which offer angio at cheaper rate, reuse certain materials. The reused materials are sterilized, is safe and good hospitals declare to patient that they are reusing materials after sterilization and they take consent of patients. Nothing wrong in that. Some people accept it, some do not. For all new materials, Rs. 7000 is bit too low to believe. The basic catheters itself will cost upwards of 4k. I have commonly seen rates from 12 to 15k for angiography. For plasty, the rate vary depending on no. and type of stent. Check whether food and blood investigations are included or not. As far as possible, go for a hospital that is NABH accredited. These hospitals have to maintain high standards of care , although at higher cost. I don't believe much in ISO.

 

[moktan]

One important thing. Some hospitals which offer angio at cheaper rate, reuse certain materials. The reused materials are sterilized, is safe and good hospitals declare to patient that they are reusing materials after sterilization and they take consent of patients. Nothing wrong in that. Some people accept it, some do not. For all new materials, Rs. 7000 is bit too low to believe. The basic catheters itself will cost upwards of 4k. I have commonly seen rates from 12 to 15k for angiography. For plasty, the rate vary depending on no. and type of stent. Check whether food and blood investigations are included or not. As far as possible, go for a hospital that is NABH accredited. These hospitals have to maintain high standards of care , although at higher cost. I don't believe much in ISO.

Thanks. The hospital offering the low rate is NABH certified.

 

[jaudere]

If it is NABH acrredited, they should declare in case they are reusing anything. However, the most important thing is to approach a cardiologist who has treated a close relative/friend to satisfaction. You have to be comfortable with your doctor. Everything else is secondary. Another thing, many times during graphy itself, the cardologist will come out and tell that angioplasty is needed. The patient/relatives ususally agree but have right to say 'no' in case they want to take second opinion by showing angiography results. The negative point is that your present cardologist will not be happy if you say no and pt will have to tolerate another procedure if the second doctor also opines in favour of plasty. However the good point is that, you will be sure that the patient really needs plasty. Since they give CD of graphy, you can take opinion even from reputed doctors outside Kolkata if you feel it necessary.

 

[moktan]

the pointers provided by forum members have been immensely helpful. further reading threw up these interesting insights which i think will help one make informed choices.
http://www.heartprotect.com/index.shtml
Limitations Of The Coronary Angiogram
Diseases And Conditions That May Cause Chest Pain

 

[Dr.Bass]

I had visited Kolkata for my father in law's angiography + angioplasty treatment. We did it at R.N Tagore hospital (also associated with Devi Shetty group of hospitals). We were very happy with their treatment, care and charges. Highly recommended !

 

[corElement]

I love how dynamic and informative this forum is. The fact that you guys wrote down to much info means a lot to someone in need. Made my day

 

[soni991]

If it is NABH acrredited, they should declare in case they are reusing anything. However, the most important thing is to approach a cardiologist who has treated a close relative/friend to satisfaction. You have to be comfortable with your doctor. Everything else is secondary. Another thing, many times during graphy itself, the cardologist will come out and tell that angioplasty is needed. The patient/relatives ususally agree but have right to say 'no' in case they want to take second opinion by showing angiography results. The negative point is that your present cardologist will not be happy if you say no and pt will have to tolerate another procedure if the second doctor also opines in favour of plasty. However the good point is that, you will be sure that the patient really needs plasty. Since they give CD of graphy, you can take opinion even from reputed doctors outside Kolkata if you feel it necessary.

thanks for this Info. Infact 2 Days back same situation happened in BM Birla Hospital Kolkata. My Father is at present recovering there at Hospital. The Doctor during the Graphy came and mentioned that required 2 Stent to be done and as its my Father and was in Panic state i have no clue and went ahead with Yes. Cost arise to 4.5Lakh as of now. Costing 1.4Lakh for each stent. is it Normal for BM birla Hospital to charge So much ??