Q: My aunt has been advised to go for a dual heart valve replacement. She also has a swollen heart. She is 45 years old. I presume that this would be an open heart surgery? Could you please give me an idea of the approximate costs involved? Which heart centre/clinic would you advise as being cost effective, since we are not too well off.

A:Double valve replacement is an open heart surgery. The cost of the surgery would include the cost of valves (approx. Rs. 55,000/- each) plus the cost of the surgery which in our hospital is Rs. 1,45,000/- Plus High Risk Surcharge of Rs. 27,500/-. You can contact us at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. In view of patients age, coronary angiography (Rs. 15,000/-) will also be required pre operatively before undertaking open heart surgery.