Catheterisation

A medical procedure whereby a thin and flexible tube known as a catheter is inserted into the body to drain fluids (such as urine) or to inject drugs (such as medicine or contrast dye).

Types of Catheterisation:

Urinary Catheterisation

• Introduction of catheter into the bladder via the urethra (or a small hole in the abdomen in suprapubic catheterisation).
• Purpose: To empty the urine when one is not able to urinate normally, at surgery, or in case of a particular illness.

Cardiac Catheterisation

• A catheter is put in one of the blood vessels (usually in the groin or in the wrist) and directed to the heart.
• Purpose: Diagnosis or treatment of heart diseases (e.g., angioplasty, stent placement).

Catheterisation- intravenous (IV)

• Introduction of a catheter in a vein
• Purpose: To give out fluid, blood or medication.

Central Venous Catheterisation

• The catheter is placed in a big vein (neck, chest or groin).
• Purpose: To administer long-term medication, nutrition or monitoring.

Common Indications

• Retention or obstruction of the urine.
• Surgical intervention which involves constant drainage or administration of medication.
• Evaluation of heart disease (blockages, valve problems)
• Chemotherapy or dialysis.
• Central venous pressure.

Catheterisation Surgery in India

This normally refers to a surgical or minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves the insertion of a catheter to diagnose or treat or drain a patient. It is not necessarily a major surgery, but is a procedure that is carried out in a sterile environment in either an operating theatre, cath lab, or a hospital ward, depending on the nature of the procedure.

Categories of Catheterisation Surgery:

Urinary Catheterisation Surgery

• What it is: The catheter is a surgically inserted tube that drains urine in the bladder.

Methods:

• Urethral Catheterisation- implanted through the urethra.
• Suprapubic Catheterisation- insertion via a minor incision in the lower abdomen into the bladder.
• Signs: Post-operative bladder obstruction, post-operative drainage, urinary retention, prostate enlargement.
• Duration: 10–30 minutes.

Cardiac Catheterisation (Angiography/Angioplasty)

• What it represents: It is a narrow tube that is passed either through the groin or wrists by passing it through the artery of the heart.

Uses:

• Diagnostic (coronary angiography) - examination of heart arteries.
• Therapeutic (angioplasty with and without stent) - opens clogged arteries.
• Symptoms: Heart attack, chest pain, heart blockage, suspected heart attack, heart defects.
• Duration: 30 minutes – 2 hours.

Central Venous Catheterisation Surgery

• What it is: High risk surgery involving a catheter into a large central vein (neck, chest, or groin).

Uses:

• Lengthening IV medication, chemotherapy, dialysis, parenteral nutrition.
• Duration: 20–40 minutes.

Dialysis Catheter Surgery

• What it is: The surgical procedure involves a special catheter which is implanted in a big vein to perform hemodialysis.
• Types: Tunneled catheters are temporary (neck/groin) or permanent.
• Symptoms: kidney failure with need of dialysis.

Recovery Time

• Urinary Catheterisation: Few hours to 1 day (longer with suprapubic).
• Cardiac Catheterisation: 1-3 days (angioplasty will require longer).
• Central/Dialysis Catheterisation: 1-2 days to the wound healing.

Best Hospitals for Catheterisation in India

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket

Catheterisation Treatment in India

Catheterisation treatment entails inserting a narrow and pliable tube (catheter) into the body to cure or control health-related problems. It is widely applicable in draining of urine, treatment of heart diseases, dialysis and distribution of medications. It may be a temporary or long-term condition depending on the condition.

Catheterisation Treatment types:

Urinary Catheterisation

• Function: This is to empty the bladder in case it cannot empty on its own.

Indications:

• Urinary retention (prostate enlargement, nerve damage, post-surgery)
• Incontinence (severe cases)
• Bladder drain surgery

Methods:

• Urethral catheter (through urethra)
• Suprapubic catheter (through abdominal incision in the bladder)

Cardiac Catheterisation

• Use: To identify and cure heart diseases.

Indications:

• Coronary artery disease
• Pain in the chest or the feeling of blockage.
• Heart valve disease

Types:

• Diagnostic (Angiography): To examine heart arteries.
• Therapeutic (Angioplasty + Stent): To dilate constricted/ blocked arteries.

Catheterisation of the central vein

• Purpose: To offer long term access to central vein.

Indications:

• Chemotherapy
• Dialysis (in some cases)
• Nutrition or long-term IV antibiotics.

Dialysis Catheterisation

• Purpose: To have access to hemodialysis due to kidney failure.

Types:

• Temporary catheter (jugular, femoral vein)
• Permanent tunneled catheter (chest, neck)

Catheterisation Procedure

• Preparation: Local anaesthesia; mild sedation may be performed in case of cardiac catheterisation.

Process:

• Urinary: Catheter placed in bladder through urethra or abdomen.
• Cardiac: Catheter in artery/vein in the wrist or the groin and directed to the heart.
• Central/Dialysis: Catheter is inserted in a large vein by means of a sterile surgery.
• Time: 15 minutes to 2 hours (time varies).

Factors Affecting Catheterisation Cost

The following is a clear categorisation of factors that can influence the cost of catheterisation, as the cost may differ significantly, based on the type of catheterisation (urinary, cardiac, central venous, or dialysis).

Type of Catheterisation

• Urinary Catheterisation- least costly (easy urethrally insertion vs suprapubic surgical insertion).
• Cardiac Catheterisation - more expensive (diagnostic angiography as opposed to therapeutic angioplasty with stent).
• Central Venous Catheterisation- medium cost (catheter type is dependent: PICC line, port, tunneled catheter).
• Dialysis Catheterisation- varies (temporary vs. permanent tunneled catheter).

Diagnostic vs. Therapeutic Procedure

• Diagnostic (e.g. cardiac angiography, urinary drainage) => cheaper.
• Therapeutic (e.g., angioplasty + stent, dialysis access creation) → increased cost because of equipment as well as more hospitalization time.

Type of Hospital / Facility

• Private hospitals - more expensive because more advanced technology, better facilities.
• Speciality centers (cardiac/kidney/urology hospital) → can be more expensive but provide specialized care.

Location of Hospital

• Prices are more expensive in metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai) than in small towns.

Type & Quality of Catheter

• Single-use urinary catheters are simple to use and cheap.
• Special catheters (drug-eluting stents, tunneled dialysis catheters, chemo-ports) - much more expensive.

Surgeon / Specialist Fees

• The fees of Urologists, Cardiologists, Nephrologists, or Interventional Radiologists never remain the same based on experience and reputation.

Hospital Stays and Post-Purchases

• Day-care process (urinary catheterisation, diagnostic angiography) → less expensive.
• Operation that requires ICU commitment (cardiac angioplasty, dialysis catheter insertion with complications) → increased cost.

Use of Imaging & Technology

• Fluoroscopy, contrast dye, cath lab inserted, therefore increasing cost of cardiac catheterisation.
• Ultrasound/fluoroscopy guidance could be required with dialysis catheters.

Other Tests and medications

• Investigations carried out pre-procedure (blood tests, ECG, echocardiography, X-ray, CT/MRI).
• After procedure drugs (antibiotics, blood thinner, painkillers, etc.).

Factors Affecting Affordable Catheterisation in India

• Type of Catheterisation
• Hospital Category
• City & Location
• Type & Brand of Catheter
• Procedure Type (Day-Care vs. Hospital Stay)
• Doctor’s Expertise & Hospital Facilities
• Use of Technology & Consumables
• Post-Procedure Costs

Conclusion

Catheterisation is associated with a very important branch of medicine and is performed in a large variety of interventions, either simple, e.g. urinary drainage; or complicated, e.g. cardiac procedures. The price of catheterisation in India is very different according to the type of operation (urinary, cardiac, dialysis, or central venous) and the type of hospital (government, private, or charitable) and the type of the catheter (basic or specialized stents/ports). Finally, catheterisation offers effective remedies to bladder problems, kidney problems, and heart diseases, and once the patients are provided with the appropriate hospital and scheme, it can be affordable and accessible to them throughout India.

Why Choose GetWellGo for Catheterisation Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Catheterisation treatment.
• Expert urologist/nephrologist/cardiologist with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food

FAQ

1. What is the time of catheterisation?

• Urinary catheterisation: 1030 minutes.
• Cardiac catheterisation: 30 minutes -2 hours.
• Central venous catheterisation: 20 40 minutes.
• Insertion dialysis catheter: 3060 min.

2. How soon do you recover after being catheterised?

• Urinary catheterisation: Recovery is generally on the same-day.
• Cardiac catheterisation: 1 3 days according to complexity.
• Central/Dialysis catheterisation: 12 and 2 days to heal the wound.

3. Is it possible to have catheterisation as a day care?

• Yes. Urinary catheterisation and cardiac angiography might often be performed within a single day. There are therapeutic catheterisations (such as angioplasty or tube dialysis catheters) that might need 1-3 days to stay at the hospital.