Procedure guide · Updated September 2026

Considering heart bypass surgery in India?

Understand when CABG may be considered, what the journey can involve, how estimates are built, and what to review with a qualified cardiac team before you travel.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Avi, MBBS. This page is educational and does not replace advice from your treating cardiologist or surgeon.

The procedure

CABG creates a new route around blocked arteries.

It is a major operation used to improve blood flow to the heart muscle in selected patients.

Typical planning window

Plan for about 2–3 weeks in India.

This can include assessment, hospital care, recovery, and a fitness-to-fly decision.

Your next step

Start with your records, not a package.

Share your angiogram, echo, clinical notes, and medication list for a specialist review.

Quick answer

CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) reroutes blood flow around blocked coronary arteries using a healthy blood vessel graft. In the U.S., self-pay charges typically range from $70,000–$230,000 depending on the number of grafts and hospital. At NABH/JCI-accredited hospitals in India coordinated through NamasteCure, an all-inclusive CABG package typically ranges from $9,500–$16,500, including surgery, a 7–10 day hospital stay, and care coordination — a potential saving of roughly 85–90%. Total time in India, including pre-op evaluation and recovery before flying home, is typically 2–3 weeks.

Understanding the procedure

What happens during CABG?

CABG is an open-heart surgery that creates a new path for blood to reach the heart muscle when one or more coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by plaque (coronary artery disease). A surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel — often from the leg, chest wall, or arm — and grafts it above and below the blocked section, restoring blood flow and reducing the risk of heart attack.

Surgeons refer to the procedure by how many arteries are bypassed: single, double, triple, or quadruple bypass. More grafts generally mean a longer operation and hospital stay, but not necessarily a proportionally higher risk — your surgeon determines the number based on your angiogram results, not on cost.

Who typically needs it

When might bypass be considered?

  • Often recommended for: multi-vessel coronary artery disease, left main coronary artery blockage, or blockages not suitable for stenting.
  • Sometimes an alternative to: angioplasty with stenting, particularly for patients with diabetes or extensive multi-vessel disease, where studies have found bypass surgery to be associated with better long-term outcomes.
  • Not a decision to make alone: only your treating cardiologist and a surgeon reviewing your actual angiogram can confirm whether CABG, stenting, or medical management is right for you. NamasteCure's role is to coordinate a second opinion from our partner surgeons — not to replace this evaluation.

The honest numbers

Compare the estimate, not just the headline price.

The ranges below are planning estimates, not a final bill. Your confirmed quote depends on your records, procedure complexity, hospital plan, device needs, length of stay, and recovery.

Procedure variant NamasteCure Package (USD) Typical U.S. Self-Pay Est. Savings

What's included

  • Pre-op medical record review & surgeon matching
  • Surgery, ICU, and 7–10 day hospital stay
  • Visa invitation letter assistance
  • Airport pickup and hospital transport
  • Dedicated care coordinator
  • Post-discharge follow-up with your home cardiologist

Not included

  • International airfare
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Extended hotel stay beyond the standard recovery window
  • Treatment for complications requiring care beyond the initial plan (contingency options are discussed during consultation)

Your confirmed, itemized quote is issued in writing only after our medical team reviews your reports — before you commit to travel. See pricing for all cardiac procedures →

Day by day

Your CABG journey, step by step

1

Free record review (before travel)

Share your angiogram, echo, and history. Our medical team and partner surgeon confirm CABG is appropriate and provide your written quote.

2

Travel & arrival (Day 0–1)

Visa invitation letter, airport pickup, and hotel or guesthouse check-in near the hospital.

3

Pre-op evaluation (Day 2–3)

In-person consultation, repeat diagnostics if needed, and final surgical planning with your surgeon.

4

Surgery & ICU (Day 4)

CABG typically takes 3–6 hours. Patients usually spend 1–2 days in the ICU immediately after.

5

Hospital recovery (Day 5–10)

Step-down to a general ward, physiotherapy begins, and your surgeon monitors incision healing and heart function before discharge.

6

Local recovery & fitness-to-fly (Day 11–18)

Most patients recover near the hospital for 1–2 more weeks before their surgeon confirms they're fit to fly home.

Total time in India is typically 2–3 weeks. Full return to normal activity generally takes 6–12 weeks from surgery, consistent with CABG recovery timelines worldwide.

Safety & accreditation

How we vet hospitals and surgeons

  • Hospital accreditation: [REPLACE — list the specific JCI and/or NABH-accredited hospitals you partner with, with links to their accreditation listings.]
  • Surgeon credentials: [REPLACE — surgeon names, qualifications, case volumes, and any publicly reportable outcome data for your partner cardiac surgeons.]
  • Outcome transparency: [REPLACE — hospital-reported CABG mortality/complication rates if the partner hospital publishes them; if not available, state that plainly rather than estimating.]
On surgical risk: All heart surgery carries risk, and individual risk depends on age, other health conditions, and case complexity. Ask any surgeon you consider — in the U.S. or India — for their personal and hospital case volume and outcome data before deciding.

Frequently asked

CABG FAQ

We only coordinate care at JCI and/or NABH-accredited hospitals — the same accreditation standards used to certify hospitals internationally, including in the U.S. Ask us for the specific accreditation and outcome data of any hospital before you decide.

Most patients plan for 2–3 weeks in India: a few days for pre-op evaluation, about a week in the hospital, and a recovery period before your surgeon confirms you're fit to fly.

Yes — we coordinate a discharge summary and follow-up plan for your home cardiologist so your ongoing care continues without gaps.

Our medical team will tell you plainly if a different treatment — such as angioplasty, medical management, or further diagnostics — is more appropriate. There's no cost or obligation for this review.

Start with a free, no-obligation review

Get your written CABG quote and surgeon match

Share your angiogram and reports — our medical team responds within 24 working hours.

Get My Free Case Review