Fortis Mulund performs pediatric heart transplant

 Mulund, Mumbai: Transplant channel bridged between Indore and Mumbai, today, spelt yet another story of success as it gave a little girl, waitlisted at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, a new lease of life. Team of doctors at Fortis Hospital, Mulund conducted a successful heart transplant surgery on a 16yr old female recipient, from Vikhroli, suffering from Dilated Cardiomyopathy; who received the donor heart from a 20yr old female who had suffered a head injury. Retrieved by Dr AnvayMulay, Head of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, from the donor at Choithram Hospital, Indore, the donor heart was transported to the hospital at Mumbai in 1hr 58minscovering 546kms.

Commencing its journey from MGM Medical College and Hospital, Indore, where the patient was declared brain dead and the family consented for donation of Heart and Liver; the donor was then moved to Choithram Hospital, Indore for evaluation and assessment.With due consent being taken, Dr Anvay Mulay rushed from Mumbai to Choithram Hospital, to harvest the donor heart which left for its journey tothe city at 7.11am, while the Liver was sent for a deserving recipient at Delhi. The donor heart reached Indore Airport at 7.24am and was immediately moved into an IndiGo commercial flight which took off at 7.41am and landed at Mumbai’s Domestic Airport at 8.49am.An ambulance, which was kept on standby for swift transfer of the donor heart, left the airport at 8.51am and reached Fortis Hospital, Mulund at 9.07am, following the Green Corridor route laid out from Domestic Airport(Gate No. 8) to Military Road - SantacruzChembur Link Road - Chedda Nagar to Eastern Express Highway - Airoli Junction and finally to Fortis Hospital, Mulund.  The donor heart was moved straight to the OT at 9.08aminto the waiting hands of conducting surgeon Dr Vijay Agarwal, Head of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

Proudly talking about the successful transplant,Dr S. Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, “Yet another interstate transplant has saved a life, this time of a young one, the 1^st patient in the PeadCard category. This transplant wouldn’t have been possible without the support of ZTCC Mumbai, Airport & Traffic Authorities at both cities, IndiGo Airlines, Medical Social Workers and Medical Teams at all three hospitals and Hon. Sanjay Dubey IAS, District Commissioner, Indore who pulled off this mammoth task. Media have been instrumental in helping us drive the case. The transplant coordination link now grows from inside the hospital, reaching the community and larger stakeholders across the country. Increased awareness about the cause and sensitivity towards the rapid response required in transportation of organs will help drive a robust heart transplant programme, working with all stakeholders in clockwork like precision”.

Dr AnvayMulay, Head of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, who conducted the previous successful heart transplants and has been working passionately and tirelessly for the case of organ donation, said, “It is heartening to see that awareness about the case is being steadily built”.

Conducting surgeon Dr Vijay Agarwal, Head of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, “This interstate transplant is indeed a breakthrough; with the channel opening up for PaedCard heart transplant surgeries, these little angels see a ray of hope. This success story will help young patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. The surgery has been successfully concluded; the patient is now stable and will be kept under observation for the next 48-72 hours”.

 Dr SujataPatwardhan, General Secretary, ZTCC Mumbai, said, “We hope that this interstate transplant brings in more awareness about the issue and the number of donations and transplants in the city go up. The list of patients with end-stage organ failure in increasing and we hope that we steadily progress towards bridging the gap. This successful heart transplant surgery is a golden example of teamwork beyond boundaries”.

This interstate transplant was made possible with support from Hon. Sanjay Dubey IAS, District Commissioner, Indore, Col. AbhayVitekar(GVK),Abhijit Suryawanshi&MuazzamBhaijvi(Airport Coordinators, GVK), APIVikasKeshavTawde(Police Control Room, Mumbai), PSI DattartrayRane(Sahar Traffic Lead, Mumbai), NGO Muskaan who helped counsel the donors family and NGO MOHAN Foundation who joined hands to coordinate the transplant.