Operation on Carotid Artery?Cost effective medical service.

[Kanthralak 1]

Good day all,

Can anyone advise and offer good advice for cost effective medical services anywhere in Thailand. I need an operation to unblock my right carotid artery. I have been quoted 300 000.00Bht by Bangkok Hospital.

Being that I don't have any form of medical assurance, this will have to be paid up front and out of my packet.

Can anyone offer or suggest another institution that maybe as effective, but hopefully a lot cheaper

Rgds,

Kanthralak 1.

[SeaVisionBurma]

Topic moved to Health and Medicine Forum.

[Sheryl]

The only place were it is going to be dramatically less expensive is a government hospital and that may entail delays which is not at all advisable (a partially occluded carotid artery is a very serious matter requiring prompt treatment, high risk of stroke).

You could try the after hours clinic at Chulalonghorn hospital, it is on the 13th floor and open around 4 PM (register first on the ground floor). Ask for one of these doctors there:

Kritaya Kritayakirana

Kittichai Luengtaviboon

Mawin Vongsaisuwon

Bring a Thai speaker with you as the red tape can be rather daunting (*all the forms are in Thai etc).

If you are not able to get in to see one of these doctors at Chula within a reasonable time (and there are sometimes very long waits) you can see Dr. Kittichai Luengtaviboon at Saint Louis Hospital on Sunday mornings 9 AM -12 noon. St Louis is private but not for profit so cost will be higher than a government hospital but less than a for-profit.

Another one to try is DR.THAMRONGROJ TEMUDOM at Phyathai Hospital. (he is also at Bumrungrad but Phayathai will cost less). He too is a very well qualified vascular surgeon. I'm not sure which of the Phyathia Hospitals he is at nor his hours, ask their call center (1172). Phyathai is for-profit but medium sized and much less expensive than the big "international"hospitals.

Wherever you end up having the surgery, be aware of admissions staff who try to convince you to take the most expensive type of room, that will add to the cost. Insist on wither a standard semi-private or standard private, no VIP anything. (sometimes they will not even reveal the existence of the less expensive rooms unless you insist.) . The medical care is the same regardless of room type.

[Kanthralak 1]

The only place were it is going to be dramatically less expensive is a government hospital and that may entail delays which is not at all advisable (a partially occluded carotid artery is a very serious matter requiring prompt treatment, high risk of stroke).

You could try the after hours clinic at Chulalonghorn hospital, it is on the 13th floor and open around 4 PM (register first on the ground floor). Ask for one of these doctors there:

Kritaya Kritayakirana

Kittichai Luengtaviboon

Mawin Vongsaisuwon

Bring a Thai speaker with you as the red tape can be rather daunting (*all the forms are in Thai etc).

If you are not able to get in to see one of these doctors at Chula within a reasonable time (and there are sometimes very long waits) you can see Dr. Kittichai Luengtaviboon at Saint Louis Hospital on Sunday mornings 9 AM -12 noon. St Louis is private but not for profit so cost will be higher than a government hospital but less than a for-profit.

Another one to try is DR.THAMRONGROJ TEMUDOM at Phyathai Hospital. (he is also at Bumrungrad but Phayathai will cost less). He too is a very well qualified vascular surgeon. I'm not sure which of the Phyathia Hospitals he is at nor his hours, ask their call center (1172). Phyathai is for-profit but medium sized and much less expensive than the big "international"hospitals.

Wherever you end up having the surgery, be aware of admissions staff who try to convince you to take the most expensive type of room, that will add to the cost. Insist on wither a standard semi-private or standard private, no VIP anything. (sometimes they will not even reveal the existence of the less expensive rooms unless you insist.) . The medical care is the same regardless of room type.

Hi Sheryl,

I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have already followed up on some of the links you gave me.

I will advise the forum of the outcome, which might only be in March.

Thanks again.

Rgds,

Kanthralak 1

[JAS21]

I had mine done in Bangkok hospital about 3 months ago ...Even though I have insurance I agreed a fixed price of 250,000 Baht ... but they managed to up it to 290,000Baht with doctors fees ... I did a have s small heart problem after a couple of days so had to stay in one more day.

As Sheryl says it would have been much cheaper in a Government Hospital and that is where I first had the CT Scan and MRI and Echo. The hospital was the Brain and Stroke Hospital.. it's the one behind Rama Hospital. The only reason that I didn't have it done there is that they wouldn't as I'm high supposedly risk. Have had a bypass 20 years ago and have a bit of COPD. They said Bangkok Hosp have better facilities if I had a problem during the op.

Depending on the %age blocked is how urgent it is to do. I guess that you are now on at least a baby aspirin.

PM me for my phone number if you want to chat.

PS great stitching job ... scar hardly noticeable now.

The doctor that I saw at the Government Hospital is there Wednesday Evenings and Saturday mornings.

Edited January 30, 2014 by JAS21

[Sheryl]

An off topic post promoting quackery (for an unrelated condition, at that) has been removed.

The OP's problem is the carotid artery -- the artery to the brain.

[i claudius]

12 years ago i was diagnosed with an 85% blockage in the cartroid artery ,at that time they had been doing trials to see if stenting or leaving it are the best ,,i do know that one of the surgeons ,this at a major heart hospital was ever in a position to need this operation ,with my amount of blockage would have one ,the answer was no ,please do not take this as if i am telling you not to ,i can only say what i know , for about 4 years i had regular checks and the blockage stayed the same , i also had a triple by pass in 1986. .

please ,do not think i am trying to put you off ,only making an obsevation.

tell

[JAS21]

12 years ago i was diagnosed with an 85% blockage in the cartroid artery ,at that time they had been doing trials to see if stenting or leaving it are the best ,,i do know that one of the surgeons ,this at a major heart hospital was ever in a position to need this operation ,with my amount of blockage would have one ,the answer was no ,please do not take this as if i am telling you not to ,i can only say what i know , for about 4 years i had regular checks and the blockage stayed the same , i also had a triple by pass in 1986. .

please ,do not think i am trying to put you off ,only making an obsevation.

Um ... I assume that you know that the %age blockage measurement is a little iffee. Even with modern day equipment Bangkok Hospital only gave it to around 10% accuracy. Also both arteries do join up later( left and right) but how effective that is and what size the interconnection is, is not worth the risk, well not to me.

The operation is now very routine, but with everything there is always a risk. I did joke with the doctor ... before you unclamp please check there are not any loose bits left!!

[lgking]

Several years ago I came across an article written by Dr. Hans Napier regarding plaque build-up in the Carotid Arteries and the treatment thereof.

For what it's worth...

http://www.serrapeptase.org/serrapeptase-research/dr-hans-nieper/

[Kanthralak 1]

Thanks for sharing,

I looked up Serrapeptase on "Wikipedia" seems this a a product that hasn't been very well researched. Pity because taking a pill would certainly be better than going under the knife and considerably cheaper.

Despite the reports, I did order some, because if I have a build-up in my carotid arteries, you can be sure there is build-up else where in my body.

Thanks again.

Report Back:

I did communicate with Bumrungrad International and Dr. Kritaya Kritayakiran. I was quotes 320000.00Bht, so I've actually gone backwards. by 20000.00Bht.

It seems that unless you put feet on the pavements and physically go into the different hospitals and care- centers. You don't get information, well certainly I've uncounted reluctance, to commit to a quote. They want to prod and poke you, before the quote. Well I've been prodded and poked and I now have a written medical report, from a reputable franchise namely Bangkok Hospital.

Rgds,

Kanthralak 1.

Several years ago I came across an article written by Dr. Hans Napier regarding plaque build-up in the Carotid Arteries and the treatment thereof.

For what it's worth...

http://www.serrapeptase.org/serrapeptase-research/dr-hans-nieper/