Ahmedabad’s Kusum Dhirajlal (KD) Hospital successfully conducted its first-ever bilateral lung transplant on a 40-year-old woman on March 18. Sharing the milestone medical feat, doctors briefed the media on Monday, adding that the patient is recuperating well.
“It was a collaboration between experienced doctors from KD Hospital and Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospitals in Hyderabad. The challenging 12-hour surgery was performed by expert team led by Dr Sandeep Attawar, program director, Heart/Lung Transplantation at KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad, and Dr Bhauin Desai, senior consultant CTVS.
The team from KD Hospital comprised transplant pulmonologists and intensivists Dr Harjit Dumra, Dr Mukesh Patel, Dr Pradip Dabhi, Dr Mansi Dandnaik and Dr Vinit Patel.
“Performing a double-Lung transplant is recognized as one of the most intricate medical procedures. The duration during which the lungs can be outside of the human body must be minimal,” shared Dr Sandeep Attawar.
The bilateral lung transplant was proposed following a thorough assessment and review. As soon as a prospective donor became available, the woman was taken in for surgery for a lung transplant after registering for a compatible set of lungs.
A brain-dead patient from Surat, Gujarat, aged 24 served as the donor. The relatives received advice on organ donation from “Donate Life” founder Nilesh Mandlewala, also a key figure in raising awareness about organ donation.
With the assistance of police units stationed in Surat and Ahmedabad, lungs were transported to Ahmedabad through a charter aircraft and a green corridor was provided. Following the transplant, the lungs began to function effectively.
Noting the importance of lung transplant, Dr Adit Desai, said: “A milestone achievement that will pave the way for many more successful and innovative procedures. This is only possible with raising awareness for organ donations in the state which is the need of the hour.”
Talking to VOI, he further informed that KD Hospital has invested Rs 7 crore towards an advanced infrastructure for heart and lung transplants. “We now have two special OTs and a four-bed transplant ICU to ensure maximum care,” he said.
Further, Dr Harjit Dumra, Sr. Transplant Pulmonologist & Critical Care Specialist, stressed on the need for more skill-set doctors and better communication to convince the donors. “There is a need for efficient doctors in hospitals to solve critical issues. As a pulmonologist, one must be conversant in three crucial segments – general practising (testing and diagnosing), critical care and interventional pulmonary.”
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