Arterial Switch Surgery (Arterial Switch Operation) in India
Also known as Arterial switch operation, ASO, Jatene procedure, TGA surgery, transposition of the great arteries surgery, neonatal heart switch surgery
The short answer
Arterial switch surgery in India costs between $6,500 and $15,000, against $80,000 to $200,000 in the West. It is a newborn open-heart surgery, usually done within the first two weeks of life, that repositions the aorta and pulmonary artery to correct transposition of the great arteries (TGA), a life-threatening condition present from birth.
About Arterial Switch Surgery (Arterial Switch Operation)
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital heart defect in which the two major arteries leaving the heart, the aorta and the pulmonary artery, are reversed. Instead of the aorta carrying oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the body, it arises from the right ventricle, sending oxygen-poor blood to the body while oxygen-rich blood is sent back to the lungs. This creates two separate, disconnected circulations and leaves the baby severely short of oxygen shortly after birth.
The arterial switch operation
The arterial switch operation, also known as the Jatene procedure, surgically repositions the aorta and pulmonary artery back to their correct anatomical connections, and reattaches the coronary arteries to the newly positioned aorta. This restores normal circulation, with oxygen-rich blood flowing to the body and oxygen-poor blood flowing to the lungs, as in a normally formed heart. It is considered the gold-standard, definitive repair for TGA.
Why this surgery is urgent
TGA is not something that can wait. Without surgical correction, a newborn with TGA cannot survive long, as the two circulations do not adequately mix oxygen into the body's blood supply on their own. Before surgery, doctors often use medication (prostaglandin) to keep a natural connection between the two circulations open, or perform a balloon atrial septostomy, a catheter procedure that creates or enlarges an opening between the heart's chambers, to stabilise the baby until the arterial switch operation can be performed, usually within the first one to two weeks of life.
What decides the surgical plan
Most babies with straightforward (simple) TGA go directly to arterial switch surgery. Where TGA occurs alongside other defects, such as a ventricular septal defect, or where the coronary artery pattern is more complex, the surgical approach is adapted accordingly, though the underlying arterial switch principle remains the same. Your paediatric cardiac surgeon confirms the exact plan after reviewing your baby's echocardiogram.
Why patients choose India for this
The same arterial switch technique used in leading Western centres is performed in India at a fraction of the cost, without compromising on the surgical standard.
Arterial switch surgery is technically demanding and time-critical; our partner hospitals work with paediatric cardiac surgeons who operate on newborns regularly, not occasionally.
This surgery depends on round-the-clock neonatal intensive care before and after the operation; partner hospitals run NICUs staffed and equipped specifically for newborns with critical heart conditions.
Because TGA cannot wait, our team prioritises rapid review of your baby's echocardiogram and expedited hospital coordination so surgery can happen within the necessary window.
Arterial Switch Surgery (Arterial Switch Operation) cost
| Country | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| India — with Nobel Medi Assistance | $6,500 – $15,000 |
| United States | $80,000 - $200,000 |
| United Kingdom | $63,000 - $100,000 |
| UAE / Middle East | $60,000 - $100,000 |
| Singapore | $70,000 - $110,000 |
Figures are indicative for international patients and depend on the hospital, the surgeon and your reports. Your exact cost is confirmed in writing after a specialist review — free, and with no obligation.
What the estimate covers
Included
- Paediatric cardiac surgeon and surgical team fees
- Operation theatre and heart-lung bypass machine charges
- NICU and hospital stay for the planned duration
- Routine medicines during the hospital stay
- Balloon atrial septostomy, if required for pre-surgery stabilisation
- Neonatal nursing and post-operative care
- Pre-discharge echocardiogram to confirm the repair
Not included
- Diagnostic workup and cardiac imaging done before arrival in India
- Flights, visa and travel insurance for the baby and accompanying parent(s)
- Accommodation once discharged from hospital
- Treatment for associated defects requiring a more complex surgical plan, if identified after arrival
- Treatment for complications unrelated to the surgery
- Lifelong cardiology follow-up visits after returning home
How Arterial Switch Surgery (Arterial Switch Operation) is done
- Urgent consultation and reviewA paediatric cardiac surgeon reviews your baby's echocardiogram remotely, as soon as possible given the time-critical nature of TGA, to confirm the diagnosis and plan.
- Stabilisation on arrivalIf needed, medication or a balloon atrial septostomy is used to stabilise oxygen levels while final pre-surgery workup is completed.
- Pre-operative workupEchocardiography and, where needed, further imaging confirm the exact anatomy, including the coronary artery pattern, before finalising the surgical plan.
- Anaesthesia and accessUnder general anaesthesia, the chest is opened and your baby is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine to support circulation during surgery.
- Performing the switchThe aorta and pulmonary artery are repositioned to their correct anatomical connections, and the coronary arteries are reattached to the newly positioned aorta.
- NICU recoveryYour baby is moved to the neonatal cardiac ICU for close monitoring, a critical part of recovery in the days following this surgery.
- Discharge and follow-up planYou go home with feeding and care instructions and a schedule for follow-up echocardiograms, as lifelong cardiology follow-up is standard after this surgery.
Recovery and what to expect
- First 48-72 hoursMonitored closely in the NICU, typically on ventilator support initially, as your baby's heart adjusts to the corrected circulation.
- Days 4-7Gradual weaning from ventilator support; feeding is reintroduced as your baby stabilises.
- 7-10 daysDischarged from hospital once feeding and recovery are on track, with a pre-discharge echocardiogram confirming the repair.
- 1-2 weeksContinued recovery at your accommodation in India, with a final check-up before flying home.
- 6-8 weeksMost babies feed and grow normally, with lifelong periodic cardiology follow-up continuing after return home.
Specialists who perform this
Dr. Krishna Subramony Iyer
Paediatric Cardiac Sciences 👑 40+ years
Dr Rajesh Sharma
Paediatric Cardiac Surgery 👑 30+ years
Dr. Kulbhushan Singh Dagar
Paediatric Cardiac Surgery 👑 32+ years
Dr. Aseem R. Srivastava
Paediatric Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Somesh Virmani
Paediatric Orthopaedics
Dr. Rekha Mittal
Pediatric Neurology 👑 31+ years
Dr. Ajit Singh Baghela
Pediatric Neurology 👑 15+ years
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Jain
Pediatric Neurology 👑 19+ yearsWhere it is done
Frequently asked questions
How urgent is this surgery?
What happens before the surgery itself?
Will my baby need any other procedures?
Will my baby have a normal life after this surgery?
Can I stay with my baby during the hospital stay?
How long do we need to stay in India?
Why is this surgery so much cheaper in India than in our home country?
What would your Arterial Switch Surgery (Arterial Switch Operation) cost?
Send your reports and a senior specialist sends back a written plan with costs within 24 hours. Free, with no obligation.