Specialists at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, began working on the first ever lung transplant around 7 am this morning. They were up since Monday midnight, retrieving organs from the 22-year-old donor from Moga, who was declared brain dead at 11 after a hit-and-run accident.
The institute had been planning to conduct lung transplant since 2013. Recently, it had missed the opportunity to perform a transplant, when one of the surgeons was absent on that day.
This time, the doctors do not want to take any risk and are being very secretive about the entire process.
Earlier, a senior doctor said, “Dr Harkant’s team is ready for the lung transplant. It will take at least 2 hours to retrieve the lungs and another 5-6 hours for transplantation. Let’s hope it is successful.”
The team of doctors sprang into action on Monday afternoon, when a 22-year-old youth from Punjab was declared brain dead.
“The youth got injured in a hit and run case on June 8, and he was brought to the PGIMER on Monday morning,” said an official.
A certification committee was formed, which declared the boy brain dead at around 11pm. While the committee was carrying out its procedure, the organ recipients were called to the hospital for transplant.
{{/usCountry}}A certification committee was formed, which declared the boy brain dead at around 11pm. While the committee was carrying out its procedure, the organ recipients were called to the hospital for transplant.
{{/usCountry}}“Doctors will also retrieve liver, kidneys and corneas from the donor. If all goes well, it will be the PGIMER’s first lung transplant,” said a senior doctor.