Mumbai sees second successful heart transplant in four days

Thane: Days after the metropolis saw its first successful heart transplant in 47 years, second such surgery was performed at a private hospital here today after traffic authorities created a ‘green corridor’ to transport a live heart from Vashi in Navi Mumbai.

A 19 km stretch from Vashi’s MGM Hospital to Fortis Hospital in suburban Mulund was converted into a ‘green corridor’ (where all traffic lights are kept green and a lane is cleared of vehicles) to allow hassle-free transport of a live heart in an ambulance.

Beginning its journey at 10.26 am, the heart was transported within 14 minutes with the help of traffic authorities and medical teams. The key organ reached Fortis Hospital at Mulund at 10.40 am and the surgery was performed.

Received from a 63-year-old donor admitted at MGM Hospital, the heart was retrieved at 10.07 am to be transplanted into a 29-year-old recipient suffering from cardiomyopathy (a condition where heart muscle is abnormal).

Sukhmeet Sandhu, Regional Director, Fortis Healthcare (Region – West & East), said, “It is extremely heartening to see the city’s second heart transplant in less than a week. I congratulate the medical teams and traffic authorities both at Vashi and Mulund for saving a valuable life.”

S Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, said, “We want to further the cause of organ donation by creating awareness and saving as many lives as possible.”

Anvay Mulay, Head of Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital said, “We have concluded the surgery and the patient is under continuous observation for the next 24-48 hours.”

On August 4, the financial capital recorded its first successful heart transplant in 47 years when a live heart was flown in from Pune in a chartered flight and taken to Fortis Hospital through a green corridor.

The heart came from a 42-year-old donor in Pune’s Jehangir Hospital and was transplanted into a 22-year-old recipient.