First heart transplant paved way for 23 more

MUMBAI: As the city celebrates the anniversary of its first successful heart transplant on August 4, doctors said the landmark transplant has boosted awareness about

MUMBAI: As the city celebrates the anniversary of its first successful heart transplant on August 4, doctors said the landmark transplant has boosted awareness about cadaver donations.

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After Anwar Khan, 22, underwent the heart transplant surgery on August 4, 2015, as many as 23 such surgeries have been performed in the city, with 18 this year alone.

Dr Anvay Mulay, head of cardiac surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, who performed the heart transplant last year, which took place in the city after a gap of 47 years (the earlier surgeries were unsuccessful), said, “The technique of doing a heart transplant is the same the one used in 1968. However, what has improved are the logistics.”

“If there is a donor at 2am, the entire team needs to know their roles and responsibilities to ensure that the heart reaches the hospital in time,” he added.

Khan, the first heart transplant patient, will enroll for a fashion designing course on Tuesday. After spending four months in a sanitised room, Anwar had started living with his family.

“I go to gym, watch movies and taking medicines on time. I am feeling perfectly healthy and will continue my studies,” said Anwar. His father Jamil said the medical expense has come down to Rs15,000 a month and he is thankful that the hospital not only waved off their bill of over Rs25 lakh but also saved his son’s life.

Dr Sujata Pathwardhan, a Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee member, said the government has shown keen interest to encourage the state’s cadaver donation. “The government will officially talk about it this week,” she said.