Haryana’s First Heart Transplant Performed at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon

While most of us were in deep sleep and possibly dreaming of going back to work after a long weekend, destiny was at work creating history with Haryana’s first cadaveric heart transplant that took

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 5, 2015 4:35 pm

While most of us were in deep sleep and possibly dreaming of going back to work after a long weekend, destiny was at work creating history with Haryana’s first cadaveric heart transplant that took place at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) in Gurgaon. The other organs which were retrieved for donation from a 44-year-old brain dead patient were the liver and the kidneys. Three of the four major organs – the heart, the liver and a kidney – were transplanted at the FMRI benefitting three lives while the other kidney was made available‎ to the Army Research and Referral (R&R) hospital for transplant. (Read: First successful organ donation under Kerala’s organ donation programme)

This is also for the first time that the heart transplant surgery was performed ‘bloodlessly’ at FMRI, early on Monday morning. The heart went to a terminally ill 54-year-old Gurgaon resident.

The donor patient, a resident of Bijwasan in south-west Delhi, was brought into the facility on October 3, post-midnight after being referred from another private hospital.

According to Vinod, the patient’s husband, his wife had been diagnosed with hypertension close to two years ago. ‘Being a home-maker, my wife who was uneducated, would often miss taking her prescribed medicines. On Friday I was home when she complained of headache and soon after started vomiting. This was around 10: 30 am. She consumed some milk and juice through the day but kept vomiting each time. She also slept through most part of the day and around 7 pm I took her to our local physician. He referred us to a nearby private hospital where a CT scan showed haemorrhage and we were immediately referred to a quaternary care facility,’ said Vinod Kumar Jha, a native of Sarsa in Bihar. (Read: Heart transplants – how are they done?)

The patient at the time of admission was critical and non-responsive. She had arrived with a massive haemorrhage and her prognosis was extremely poor.

The brain dead protocol was initiated on Sunday evening at FMRI. The family agreed upon donation soon after and the patient was declared brain dead at 2:22 am on October 5 (Monday).

‘One rarely expects organ donations from families with such humble backgrounds. This is our third case of cadaveric donations at the facility since the beginning of this year. To achieve triple transplants under the same roof in a short span of two years since operations is a milestone in itself,’ said Jasdeep Singh, zonal director, FMRI.

According to Dr Avnish Seth, Director Fortis Organ Retrieval and Transplant (FORT), ‘There is a huge gap between requirement and the availability of organs in India and it is estimated that we need about 1, 75,000 kidneys, 100,000 livers, 50,000 hearts, and 20,000 lungs in a year. FORT provides a registry to those who wish to pledge organs during their life and a 24-hour referral service for assistance with documentation and procedures relating to the process of organ donation is made available(fort@fortishealthcare.com ; helpline +91-8447743868).’

‘We feel proud to be associated with the family of the donor. Vinod has been a technician with us for close to two decades. It is unimaginable that a person like him would set an example by taking such a bold step. It is important that a layman understands the essence of cadaver organ donations so that more lives can be saved,’ said a Deepak Batra, head – HR, admin and Legal at Beumer Group where the deceased’s husband is employed. (Read: Miracles happen: A brain dead advocate’s heart gives life to an autorickshaw driver)

The deceased is survived by her 46-year-old husband, two daughters and a son.

Meanwhile, all recipient patients are currently under observation in the post-operative area.

About the transplants:

1. Heart: – Harvested at 6:52 am – transplanted into a 54-year-old male terminally ill with biventricular dysfunction. There was no blood transfusion carried out by the CTVS team at FMRI to increase the chances of success of transplant and ensure long-term survival in the recipient.

2. Liver: Harvested at 7:01 am – transplanted into a 45-year-old male from Gurgaon suffering from liver cirrhosis at FMRI

3. Kidneys: Harvested at 7: 10 am and 7: 14 am respectively. One transplanted laproscopically in a 24-year-old man with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at FMRI, second sent to Army R&R Hospital. Laproscopic transplant ensures quick healing lesser infection in the recipient.

Earlier cadaver donations:

1. January 2015 – 30-year-old engineer donated heart, liver and both kidneys. Heart was sent through a Green Corridor to FEHI to be transplanted to a 16-year-old boy

2. September 2015 – 59-year-old man from Gurgaon’s neighbourhood donated heart, liver and both kidneys. Heart was sent to FEHI through a Green Corridor and transplanted in a 23-year-old terminally ill woman.

Photo source: Getty images

Published: October 5, 2015 4:35 pm

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