Heart Surgery?

[mellew]

i might need a heart stent fitted?? can i have it done in sattahip sirikit, or anywhere else in thailand for a reasonable price, not bph or pinternational, mel

[geriatrickid]

i might need a heart stent fitted?? can i have it done in sattahip sirikit, or anywhere else in thailand for a reasonable price, not bph or pinternational, mel

Before you go the heart stent method in Thailand, I suggest you read up on the procedure including long term prognosis. Compare the technique and results with what happens in your home country. Please do not focus on price. Some hospitals may offer a cheap procedure, but if you end up having to do a bypass 3 years later or worse have a stroke or heart attack, the savings go out the door.

Sometimes the cost savings come about because the procedure features a bare metal stent instead of a drug eluting stent. The drug eluted stent is coated with a slow release chemical intended to keep the blood vessel from reclosing.

I am not commenting on whether or not you should do the procedure, just that you need to make sure that the Thai vendor has explained the procedure including the method. My observation is that many of procedures cost less in Thailand because they are not always the same as those found elsewhere. Sort of like after market parts for the car. Sometimes one can make do with a generic light bulb, but at other times it is best to purchase the manufacturer's original brake pads.

[JSixpack]

Siriraj Hospital, BKK, is where Thai VIPs go for heart surgery. But you'll need to get to the best docs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siriraj_Hospital

[bunnaag]

Who told you to get a stent implanted?Did you consult a cardiologist?Maybe you need more than one.In my case 7 stents were implanted.But after only 4 months problems start again.In my case another cardiologist told me it would have been better to make a bypass operation.Generally stents are starting to make problems after 3 years in average ,whereas with a bypass operation problems start in average after 10 years.However I met a man in the hospital who had 7 stents implanted in his bypass after only 6 years.Why dont you check the prices from the Pyathai 2 hospital in Bangkok.Go to their website and than contact.They answer within one day.

[chiang mai]

I had a stent installed a year and a half ago at Bumrungrad, package price for the procedure is 150k Baht. Some folks will tell you that's the price for a non-medicated stent which it is - but cardiac surgeons will tell you now that there is no difference in the outcome between using a metal stent and taking Plavix for a year versus using a medicated stent. Subsequently I have also found out that according to the Mayo Clinic, there is no difference in outocmes between taking Plavix and Aspect versus having a stent, just some things to think about.

[bunnaag]

My stents are medicated and I still have to take Plavix.With some people Plavix will not work they have to take Efient.The chemical in Plavix is Chlopidogrel in Efient it is Prasugrel.The price difference is big.100 tablets Plavix cost in Germany about 190 Euro.98 tablets Efient cost about 290 Euro.Generic Chlopidogrel from Hexal about 169 Euro for 100 tablets.It is advised to take a tablet a day together with ASS.If you get a bypass you have to take less medizin as with a stent implant I was told.

[Sheryl]

A government hospital will be less expensive but it's still going to cost you due to the cost of the stents themselves. What is less is the surgical fee + hospital room.

I can recommend an excellent, US-trained doctor at Chulalonghorn if you like, has private practice once a week at Bkk Christina Hosp but doesall his surgery at Chula.

Quite possible Queen Sirikit Hosp can also do, I don't know,but do look closely into the qualifications & experience of the doctor. Cost would probably be the same as at Chula.

[bunnaag]

@ Sheryl

can you please send contact details.I am interested for future treatment.

Thank you

[mellew]

sherryl any contact details, i have 50% blockage in 1 artery, and high cholesteral, i am on vytorin to try and unblock it, if it fails then plan b stent,

[lopburi3]

As an FYI noticed advertisement today from Bangkok Heart Hospital (Bangkok Hospital Group specialized facility) of open heart package at about 450k. A neighbor had emergency 4 bypass there last year (nearly DOA) and know it cost him more than a million.

[Sheryl]

sherryl any contact details, i have 50% blockage in 1 artery, and high cholesteral, i am on vytorin to try and unblock it, if it fails then plan b stent,

Dr. TAWORN SUITHICHAIYAKUL

Saturdays at Bangkok Christian Hospital 10Am - 12 N

As he is only there 2 hours a week tends to be heavily booked and it is first come, first see( tho should still make appojntment) therefore get there as early as possible e.g. 8 AM would be good (if first time there will also need to register to get hosp number)

The doctor trained at UCLA and speaks fluent English but the nursing and admin staff less so, if you speak basic Thai no problem otherwise if you can bring a Thai speaker it will facilitate the registration process.

As mentioned he is on the faculty at Chula and would do the angiogram and (if indicated) stent placement over there. Bring all test results with you e.g. echocardiogram, stress test, blood work. Will save time and avoid unnecessary expense.

I brought the mother of a Cambodian colleague to see him some months back and was very favorably impressed by both his obvious competence and his integrity. He has published extensively in his field and I would trust his judgement.

I forget what he told me the stent cost was (in my colleague mother's case he determined that she had been misdiagnosed in Cambodia and did not, in fact, even have heart disease!) but I do know it was as inexpensive as anywhere will be. Which is still not all that cheap due to the cost of the stents themselves.