Mumbai sees 14th successful heart transplant surgery

Doctors at Mulund's Fortis Hospital conducted Mumbai's 14th successful heart transplant surgery on Tuesday. A 43-year-old man from Alwar in Rajasthan with heart failure got the heart of a 17-year-old Surat boy who was declared brain dead at Sunshine Global Hospital after sustaining injuries in a road accident. The family of the boy consented for the organ donation and gave a new lease of life to four recipients by donating his liver, kidneys and heart.

The heart was harvested and the preserved organ was transported from Sunshine Global Hospital in Surat to Fortis Hospital, post assessment and evaluation, in one hour and 15 minutes, covering a distance of 269km.

Dr Anvay Mulay, head of the cardiac transplant team at Fortis Hospital, said, "There has been a slow yet steady progression in our mindset towards organ donation. This is a great sign for the wait-listed patients. We are happy to be instrumental in driving this change that will help build a robust heart transplant channel in the state. We are also proud of the spirited families who've helped save and enrich lives of many deserving patients by consenting to donate organs of their loved ones. This gesture will encourage many more families to follow suit."