Mumbai, November 08, 2022: A one-year-old girl who was suffering from a heart condition underwent an organ transplant at Fortis Hospital, Mulund. In a surgery that was led by Dr Dhananjay Malankar, Consultant-Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Dr Satish Javali, Consultant-Cardiothoracic Surgery, the heart transplant was conducted as she was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy.

In this condition, the heart chambers (ventricles) become thin and stretch, making it extremely hard for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. The infant, a Mulund resident, was diagnosed at birth and had been on the organ donation waiting list for the past four months. Her father, a peon in a local school, and her mother, a homemaker, were keenly looking forward to a donor that would match their child. 

Dr Dhananjay Malankar, Consultant-Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, “The surgery was conducted within a span of one hour. As she was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, surgery was the only way to save her life. The surgery was successful.” (Complications if any to be added in lay man’s terms: Placeholder comment which will change depending on doctor’s input)

The donor was a 10-year-old girl and a resident from Pune who had suffered grievous injuries due to a road accident, died while undergoing treatment at a charitable hospital. After her parents granted consent, four of her organs were donated, which included liver, kidneys, cornea, and heart. After her organs were retrieved, her heart was transported from Pune at 7:56 AM, to Mulund at 9:43 AM. The green corridor that was created helped to transport the organ by road in less than two hours.

Dr S Narayani, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals, Maharashtra, says, "Fortis Hospital has always been at the forefront of creating awareness about organ donation. Our expertise in conducting organ transplants has helped to give a new lease of life to critical patients. People should pledge to donate their organs so that more people on the waiting list can live a healthy life.”

The patient is currently being monitored by experts at the hospital.