Green Corridor gives another lease of life at Fortis Mulund

Mumbai:   Residents  of  Gujarat  opened  their  hearts  yet  again  to  save an other precious life. In city’s 18th  heart transplant since August last year; 53 yr old male recipient from Katargam, Surat got a fresh lease of life, as the family of a 54 yr old male admitted at Mahavir Hospital, Surat donated their kin’s organs. Wait listed since last two months, the donor heart helped enrich the life of a recipient suffering from Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

The donor family enriched lives of six patients suffering from end-stage organ failure by donating Kidneys,  Liver,  Corneas  and  the  Heart.  Retrieved  by Dr  Hemant Pathare,  CVTS  Surgeon,  Fortis  Hospital, Mulund, the donor heart was transported to Mumbai in 1 hour 17 mins. The donor, admitted at Mahavir Hospital, Surat was declared brain dead following a road traffic accident that resulted in a head injury. The family was counselled by Mr Nilesh Mandlewala, President, NGO Donate Life; willingly consenting to donate and save lives.

As soon as the consent was in place, the Airport and Traffic Authorities of Surat and Mumbai came together, swiftly laying out the roadmap and the flight map. The donor heart left Mahavir Hospital, Surat at   11.35 AM, reaching Surat Airport at    11.48 AM; it was then transferred into a chartered flight that took off at   11.54 AM, landing at Mumbai Airport at 12.33 PM, heading out in the stand- by ambulance at   12.34 PM

The Green Corridor chalked from Domestic Airport (Gate No. 8) to Military Road – Santacruz-Chembur Link Road - Chedda Nagar to Eastern Express Highway - Airoli Junction and finally to Fortis Hospital, Mulund, helped the heart reach Fortis Hospital Mulund at 12.52 PM and was immediately rushed into the OT into the waiting hands of Dr Anvay Mulay, Chief  of Cardiac Transplant Team, at the hospital.

Conducting surgeon Dr Anvay Mulay, Chief of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund said, “The recipients condition was rapidly deteriorating and a transplant surgery was absolutely essential to save him. This surgery was only possible because of the courageous donor family, we are indebted to them as they helped us save a precious life. We have concluded the surgery and the patient is now stable. He’s been moved to the ICU and will be kept under observation for the next 48-72 hours”.

Talking about the successful surgery, Dr S. Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund   said,“Robust transplant channel between Gujarat and Maharashtra has helped us make the 18th  heart transplant possible. This is the 5th  time, we've received the donor heart from Gujarat, and their support  to  the  Heart  Transplant  Programme  is  very  encouraging.  We  hope  to  build  more  such channels across the neighbouring states. Coordination for this transplant is indeed exemplary; the transplant only became possible as NGO Donate Life, medical teams at Mahavir Hospital and Traffic

• Airport authorities, joined hands to save a life”.

Mr Nilesh Mandlewala, President, NGO Donate Life    , who has been instrumental in making this transplant happen, said, “We will continue working tirelessly with socially responsible stakeholders to save and enrich lives. Our efforts that translate into successful transplants help us get a step closer to bridging the donor-recipient ratio”. 

With the success of the transplant, Fortis Hospital, Mulund has earned the distinction of being the only hospital in the state to conduct successful heart transplant surgeries successively. With this progression, patients in need of medical aid can now seek immediate help within Mumbai itself.