Cost
of Kidney Stone Surgery: India has More to Offer
Kidney stones
are a solid mass in the form of crystals that develop in combination with
oxalate or phosphate. When they are small, the body system flushes it
out along with the urine but when the size increases, it becomes difficult
to get away with the urine thus creating problem.
The blockage causes pain, infection, and bleeding and at times even damages
the tissues of the kidney and the need for the surgery arises to remove
the stone. Nephrolithotomy is the name of the surgery to remove kidney
stones.
The doctor resorts to Nephrolithotomy when all other non-invasive methods
of surgery fail. Incision is made at the back, below the lower rib, the
stones are removed, and the wound is sutured. The procedure is performed
with the help of general anesthesia. The recovery takes up to two months.
Lithoptripsy is another method of stone removal from the kidney. This
is a very simple and easy way to get rid of the stones. High-energy shock
waves are given to fragment the big stones so that they are excreted out
along with the urine. The process is called Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.
The cost of Nephrolithotomy is very expensive and ranges from $4,000 to
$6000 in the US. The cost includes the pre and post surgery expenses,
checks ups and follow ups. Sometimes it is difficult to find good centers
for this stone removal surgery so they opt for foreign countries. India
is one such place where the clinics and the cost factor are very competitive.
The cost of lithotripsy ranges from $10,000 to $ 20,000 in the US. The
cost varies from one place to another depending on the surgeons, clinics
and other facilities related to the surgery.
People prefer India when it comes to low cost kidney stone surgery. There
are many low cost packages available according to the patient. There is
a drastic difference in price of the surgery between the US and India,
even when done by expert surgeons.
The cost of the kidney stone surgery available in the US is seven to eight
times more than the cost of the surgery in India. The treatment is excellent
with experienced and highly professional surgeons along with the other
state-of the-art infrastructure, all at a competitive cost.
Due to the low cost in kidney stone removal surgery, patients from 50
foreign countries visit India to get their stones removed effectively
and happily. The cost is cheaper for both Nephrolithotomy and Lithotripy
that India is fast emerging as a competent and a cost effective competitor
in the world of medical field.
This treatment is available in the major cities of India like, Mumbai,
Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, and Nagpur along
with other cities with excellent medical facilities.
