Congestive Heart Failure Treatment in Delhi

Congestive heart failure (CHF) occurs when the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively. As a result, fluid builds up in different parts of the body. If it collects in the lungs, breathing becomes harder. If it collects in the legs or abdomen, it shows up as swelling. This buildup of fluid is why this type of heart failure is called “congestive”.

The treatment of congestive heart failure is not just about getting rid of these symptoms, but finding out why the heart is struggling in the first place and then deciding how to address it.

This is where the experience of your cardiac specialist can make a meaningful difference.

Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mittal, Senior Director & Head of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, has over 25 years of experience treating complex heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, valve problems and other conditions that can contribute to heart failure.

Congestive Heart Failure Causes

The causes of congestive heart failure mostly trace back to one of these things:

Blocked Arteries (Coronary Artery Disease)

It is the most common cause of Congestive heart failure. Coronary arteries supply oxygen to the heart. If it gets blocked because of any reason like a blood clot:

• Oxygen supply to heart is cut off
• Heart cannot function properly

Dysfunctional Heart Valve

A healthy valve is a one-way door: blood passes through, Valve shuts and nothing flows back.

If there is a defect in the valve like leakage or narrowing of the valve, the heart has to work harder to move the blood.

Sustained High Blood Pressure

• High BP increases the load on the heart
• Over years, the heart gets tired
• Heart muscles thicken to cope
• Thickened heart eventually stiffens

There are other factors too that can contribute to congestive heart failure:

Irregular Heart Rhythms

A heart beating too fast for too long tires itself out, weakening the heart over time.

Weight, Diabetes (The Silent Stressors)

They quietly add to the everyday load on the heart, accumulating as strain over the years.

Congenital Factors

They are structural defects in the heart that are present from birth (eg: holes between heart chambers)

Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms

Symptoms of congestive heart failure can involve:

• Breathlessness during basic daily activities like climbing stairs or walking to another room
• Breathlessness while lying flat (orthopnea)
• Waking up at night gasping for air (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea)
• Swelling in the ankles, legs, or abdomen (edema)
• Persistent fatigue, even after rest
• Dry, persistent cough, worse when lying down

These symptoms mostly appear because of fluid retention. Where this fluid gets pooled in the body decides the signs you observe.

What are the Stages of Congestive Heart Failure?

•  Stage A: High risk, but no symptoms or structural heart disease yet
• Stage B: Heart disease is present, but no symptoms yet
• Stage C: Heart disease with symptoms like fatigue and swelling
• Stage D: Advanced heart failure, requiring specialized intensive treatments.

When Should You See a Heart Specialist for Congestive Heart Failure?

Contact a cardiac specialist immediately if you notice:

• Breathlessness during daily basic activities
• Shortness of breath while lying down
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen
• Exercise tolerance dropping

Go straight to the ER if:

• You’re breathless even at rest
• Symptoms suddenly worsen over hours or a day or two, you might need oxygen and medication right away
• Chest pain, a racing heartbeat, or sudden dizziness

Timely evaluation can help guide the right treatment and prevent complications. When in doubt, it’s safer to get your heart checked.

Congestive Heart Failure Diagnosis

Diagnosing congestive heart failure involves a physical examination and a few key tests. The infographic below shows how diagnosis for CHF is generally carried out.

Not every patient needs all the tests. The exact combination depends on what the physical exam and initial tests point to.

Congestive Heart Failure Treatment in Delhi

Treatment of CHF depends on the cause. Not every patient needs surgery. Many are managed with medication first. When cause is something medication can’t fix, surgery becomes the answer.

Medication for CHF

• Diuretics: Increase urine output, flushes out excess fluid
• Antihypertensive: Reduces BP

Surgical options

CABG (Bypass Surgery)

Creates a new path for blood to reach the heart, bypassing the blocked artery.

• On-pump: heart is stopped and machine takes over circulation. Then, the surgery is performed
• Off-pump: heart keeps beating, surgery performed on beating heart

Valve Repair or Replacement

Depending on how damaged the valve is:

• Repair
• Replacement (if damage is too extensive)

ASD/VSD Closure
Surgical closure of hole in heart chambers (a defect present from birth in some patients)

Device Therapy

• ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator): A weakened heart is prone to dangerous rhythms; the ICD detects these and shocks the heart back to normal
• CRT (Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy): helps both sides of the heart beat in sync, so it pumps more efficiently

Advanced Surgical Options

• LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) implantation: an artificial pump, surgically implanted, that works with the heart to pump blood
• Open-heart surgery: The chest is opened up, surgery is performed directly on heart

Lifestyle Modifications

• Low sodium diet
• Limit alcohol and smoking
• Manage conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol

CHF Treatment Cost in Delhi

The cost of congestive heart failure treatment in Delhi varies based on the cause, severity, and treatment required. The table below provides an overview of the estimated costs for different CHF treatment options.

Choosing the Right Cardiac Surgeon for CHF Treatment in Delhi

A right cardiac specialist understands the condition, traces it back to its exact cause, and then decides on a treatment plan, with proper monitoring throughout. Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mittal is among the leading Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in Delhi NCR, bringing exactly that experience:

• 25+ years treating complex heart conditions
• 10,000+ surgeries (adults, children, and newborns)
• MCh in cardiosurgery, AIIMS, New Delhi
• Senior Director & Head of Department, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh
• Performs on-pump and off-pump bypass

Book a Consultation for CHF Treatment in Delhi

CHF often develops quietly, without dramatic symptoms at first. The earlier it’s caught, the better it can be managed.

At a consultation with Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mittal, he will:

• Review your symptoms and medical history
• Check your echocardiogram or existing reports
• Identify the underlying cause
• Build a treatment plan specific to your case

Do these symptoms sound familiar? Don’t wait around hoping they’ll go away on their own. The warning signs of congestive heart failure deserve attention, since they can point to something more serious happening underneath.

Need a specialist? Book your appointment here.