India is one of the leading medical tourism destinations for the safest and most affordable organ transplant surgeries among international patients. Every year, thousands of people travel and get admitted to some of the best transplant surgery hospitals in India. Any organ transplant requires following pre and postoperative procedures thoroughly for the best treatment outcome.
This article discusses pre and post-operative care you can expect at top Indian hospitals and transplant surgery costs in India.
Why and how critical are organ transplant surgeries?
Advances in medical science have made organ transplantation surgeries much more successful, tremendously improving the chances of patients returning to their regular lives post-operation. However, organ transplantation procedures are still risky, even in any of the best transplant surgery hospitals in India or elsewhere and the major reasons are:
- Chances of organ rejection
- High risk of postoperative infection
- Blood-borne diseases
Chances of organ rejection – This happens when a patient’s own body immunity considers the newly transplanted organ as a foreign object and tries to destroy it. This may not occur right after the transplant surgery, as post-surgery patients get immunosuppressant medications. Sometimes, patients reported symptoms of organ rejection even a year or two after the surgery.
High risk of postoperative infection – The use of immunosuppressant medications keeps patients’ natural immune system low during and after an organ transplant surgery. So, patients become very vulnerable to viral, bacterial, and other types of environmental infections.
Blood-borne diseases – For any type of organ transplantation, patients require a blood transfusion to compensate for blood loss during the surgery. This may make patients vulnerable to blood-borne diseases from donors.
So, organ transplant surgeries require extreme medical care and active medical interventions throughout the process—before, during, and after the surgery.
What can you expect in the best transplant surgery hospitals in India?
Organ transplant surgeries in any of the top Indian hospitals are reliable and affordable for international patients. These hospitals provide access to some of the best transplant surgery doctors in India and strictly adhere to the highest patient safety practices.
Let us discuss pre and post-operative care you get in any of the best transplant surgery hospitals in India.
Preoperative Care
Usually, including pre and postoperative periods, an organ transplant patient is required to stay in the hospital for 10 to 15 days depending on health conditions. Of that, the preoperative period comprises 2 to 3 days.
- Medical Assessment and Tests
Once patients enquire or consult with doctors or show interest in transplantation, the best transplant surgery hospitals in India perform medical tests thoroughly to examine patients’ body functioning and pre-existing diseases, and to determine a suitable donor profile. Some of the common tests are:
- Blood tests
- Full range of medical imaging of vital organs
- Cancer screening
- Full cardiac checkup
- Urine analysis
- Glucose level monitoring
Doctors also require patients to undergo psychological evaluation. The mental readiness of the patient and his or her family support system can become critically important during the treatment process.
Education and counseling
As per the outcome of health checkups, doctors decide on the requirements and the feasibility of organ transplantation for patients. If feasible, hospitals conduct counseling sessions with patients and their family members regarding the potential implications of transplantation on patients’ lifestyles and associated risks.
Lifestyle changes, preoperative medications and life practices
Most organ transplant surgeries require patients to follow dietary control, adopt nutritious food habits, maintain an active lifestyle, and avoid addictions. Patients are also required to take immunosuppressant medications to control the body’s natural immune system. Avoiding addictions and regular exercise help patients to maintain their health and hygiene before the surgery. To control and minimize risks of infections, the best transplant surgery hospitals in India and in other countries often require patients to take several types of vaccines.
Postoperative care
Depending on arising complexities, transplant surgeons may ask patients to stay for 7 to 12 days or more after the surgery has been successfully completed.
Intensive monitoring and medication
During the postoperative period, hospitals keep patients under intensive care for the first few days until the vitals stabilize. A team of caregivers and physicians continuously monitors organ functioning along with other body vitals.
Intensive care also includes following a strict medication routine involving immunosuppressants, antibiotics, antifungals, and antiviral drugs. Such medication helps to avoid postoperative infections and organ rejection.
Patient safety and treatment quality
Any of the best transplant surgery hospitals in India serving international patients are JCI (The Joint Commission) and NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) accredited. So, they maintain the highest level of patient safety standards related to medication safety, infection prevention, patient record documentation, and patient engagement.
Besides, during postoperative stays, top hospitals also arrange regular physical therapies, one-to-one counseling, and patient education sessions. This helps patients to overcome post-surgery mental and physical stress that may occur.
Bottomline
For international patients who are looking for world-class organ transplants at affordable costs, top Indian hospitals are the best options. Kidney transplant in any of the best transplant surgery hospitals in India may cost as low as USD 15000 while liver transplant surgeries in India can cost around USD 30,000. The combination of top-notch care, specialized treatment and affordability is what is making India a leading medical tourism hub for organ transplant surgeries.
