Another heart beats for them

BANGALORE: A year ago, when Jasan Sangma began to suffer swelling in the face, lips and limbs and incessant snoring in the night, the Meghalaya boy was taken to a local doctor. Medical tests and visits to several hospitals confirmed that Jasan suffered from a cardiac ailment but there was no clarity on treatment. Finally, his mother Sane B Sangma, a teacher, brought him to Narayana Health City in Bangalore.Dr Sheesha Maiya, pediatric cardiologist, diagnosed that the 17-year-old was suffering from a rare genetic cardiac disorder called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dyslapsia (ARVD). In ARVD, the right side of the heart loses strength.
On August 15 this year, Jasan underwent a heart transplant and is now doing well. “We were told the only option was to go for a transplant. We registered him with the Zonal Coordination Committee of Karnataka for organ transplants and waited. Luckily he got a matching heart. My son has got a new life,” said Sane.
Jasan is the seventh person to undergo the procedure in Narayana Health City. Living with someone else’s heart has given a second life to many. Like 57-year-old wedding planner Ashok Chugani. “To eat, sleep and sit are the basic comforts for human beings. I wasn’t able to do any of that since 2010. Being a heart patient, I had a tough time.” A stent inserted in his heart didn’t help much and he was waiting for transplant. On July 14 this year he underwent the surgery. “I am back at work now. Life has given me a fresh chance to live, thanks to the donor’s family,” he said.
Ditto with Jayanth Rao, 18, who underwent a heart transplant last December. “I am now able to live like my friends. I travel almost 50 km daily to college,” said the mechanical engineering student hailing from KGF.
For B Shivarudraiah and Indramma from Tumkur who had lost their daughter to a cardiac ailment, their son Sandeep was the only hope. And when he was diagnosed with a cardiac condition requiring a transplant, there were no two opinions. Sandeep, an engineering student, underwent a heart transplant in May 2011. “I never imagined I would survive. But I did. I am more confident now. I am grateful to the unknown donor’s family,” said Sandeep.
According to Dr Julius Punnen, cardiothoracic transplant surgeon at Narayana Health City, patients who are financially strong and socially useful are picked for transplant as it involves medicines to be taken to post transplant period. A transplant costs between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. “Transplant induces positive outlook in life. It’s priceless,” he added.
Heart in a box
When a heart is taken out from a brain dead condition it’s in an arrested condition. It is immersed in a thermostatic box, where temperature is maintained at subzero level with ice cubes in it. It is kept in organ preservation solution and will not be pumping. Now, US researchers have designed a machine, ‘Heart in a box’, where the heart will be kept alive and functioning with artificial support system till it reaches the recipient. Dr R Bhagirath, transplant cardiologist, said that Narayana Health is willing to procure the machine. “Currently the ischemic time for transportation of a live heart from the time of harvesting to transplant is four and a half hours. That’s why we require a green corridor for movement of the heart. We can overcome limitations of ischemic hours with this machine. We will procure it,” he said.