21st Successful Heart Transplant Conducted at Fortis Mulund

Mumbai: Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, conducted 21^st heart transplant on a 55-year old male doctor from Sahapur District in Palghar, who was suffering from Dilated Cardiomyopathy. The transplant became possible when a 32-year old man from Khar, Mumbai, was declared brain-dead following a traumatic MCA (Middle Cerebral Artery)brain injury and stroke. His family consented to donate their kin’s organs to save lives of four deserving recipients by donating his heart, kidney, liver and cornea. Interestingly, this is the first time in the history of the city that heart transplantation is conducted on a medical practitioner.

 After assessment and evaluation of the donor’s condition, the heart was retrieved at Lilavati Hospital by Dr Anvay Mulay, Head of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund. The donor heart left Lilavati Hospital at 11:42 am and was transported from Lilavati Hospital to Fortis Hospital in Mulund, covering distance of 24 kms in 20 minutes. Traffic Authorities swiftly laid a Green Corridor between Bandra Reclamation and Fortis Hospital, Mulund, facilitating transportation of the donor heart in the shortest possible time. Perfectly co-ordinated efforts from Lilavati Hospital, the ZTCC, Mumbai, and the Traffic Authorities helped the heart reach Fortis Hospital in Mulund at 12:00 pm and into the Operation Theater at 12:02 pm. Dr Anvay Mulay, conducted the surgery, which was concluded at 3:45 pm. Post-surgery, the condition of the recipient is stable and will be under observation for the next 48/72 hours in the ICU.

On success of the 21^st heart transplant, the conducting Surgeon Dr Anvay Mulay said, “We are proud to announce twenty-first successful heart transplant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund. Incidentally, this time, the recipient is a medical doctor, who was suffering from Dilated Cardiomyopathy for four months and was wait listed for two months. There was a ray of hope for the patient when the donor’s family consented for donation of heart after he was declared brain-dead. Timely consent from the donor’s family, the efforts of the ZTCC and the Mumbai Police ensured swift transportation of heart and no time was lost, thus facilitating another successful heart transplant.”

Acknowledging the noble gesture of the donor family, Dr Mulay added, “We salute the families who are looking beyond traditional and religious beliefs – and are consenting to the organ donation of their brain-dead kin – for their courage. More lives will be saved if the culture of organ donation spreads deeper within the country.”

Talking about the successful surgery, Dr S. Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, “Twenty-one successful heart transplant surgeries in eleven months strongly places Fortis Hospital, Mulund, as a preferred centre for cardiac care in Western India. Today’s heart transplant has been a special case for us because the recipient, as Dr Anvay Mulay mentioned, is a medical doctor himself, and we are happy to save life of our brethren. We are committed to superior cardiac care to patients and are happy to walk an extra mile if it helps in saving precious lives. While announcing the 21^stsuccessful heart transplant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, we are seeking support from everyone in spreading awareness about merits of organ donation.”