Glenn Procedure- Best Doctors, Hospitals & Cost of Treatment in India

Treatment overview

The Glenn procedure (bidirectional Glenn shunt) is an open-heart operation performed on infants with single-ventricle congenital heart defects — conditions in which only one of the heart's two pumping chambers functions adequately. During the surgery, the superior vena cava, which carries oxygen-poor blood from the head and upper body, is disconnected from the heart and connected directly to the pulmonary artery so that blood flows passively into the lungs without being pumped by the heart. This reduces the workload on the single working ventricle, improves oxygen levels in the body, and eases symptoms such as breathlessness and poor feeding. The Glenn is the second of three planned operations in the single-ventricle pathway, typically performed at around four to six months of age, sitting between the initial newborn surgery and the later Fontan procedure. Most children stay in hospital for ten to fourteen days, spend the first few days in the pediatric cardiac ICU, and are usually noticeably more settled and better-fed within weeks of returning home.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: ~$500 – $1,000

Typical tests for this treatment: 2D Echocardiography (detailed structural and functional assessment), Cardiac catheterisation (pulmonary artery pressure measurement), Chest X-ray, CBC (complete blood count), Kidney and liver function tests, Coagulation / clotting studies (PT/INR, APTT), Blood group and cross-match, Pediatric anesthesia fitness evaluation. Done in India before hospital admission. Cost varies with case complexity.

Treatment / Procedure estimate

Estimated cost in India: $10,000 – $12,500

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~1 days

Hospitalisation: ~12 days

Recovery period (outside hospital): ~14 days recommended

Total stay: approx 27 days

Usually Included in Hospital Package

• Full hospital admission including pediatric cardiac ICU stay and ward stay
• Pediatric cardiac surgeon and anesthesiologist fees
• Operation theatre and cardiopulmonary bypass charges
• Pre-procedure in-patient investigations (echo, catheterisation, blood tests)
• Post-operative medications and anticoagulation during hospital stay
• Nursing care and monitoring throughout admission
• Follow-up consultations and echocardiogram before discharge

Usually Not Included

• Travel and accommodation
• Visa processing and travel insurance
• Cardiac catheterisation interventions beyond diagnostic pressure measurement
• Extended ICU stay or additional procedures if complications arise
• Home pulse oximeter or post-discharge medications