Vijayawada man successfully undergoes double lung transplant at Yashoda

Hyderabad: A bilateral (double) lung transplantation was successfully carried out at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad recently. The transplanted lungs have gained full functionality post-surgery, said the doctors.

Shaik Gufran (31) from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh was the subject of the operation. He was facing challenges from complicated silicosis (a progressive lung disease primarily caused by inhaling silica dust) and also had a history of treated NTM (Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial) infection.

Despite effective treatment for his NTM infection, Shaik still bore the permanent scars it had left on his lungs, further complicating his condition. These lingering effects added to his struggles, eventually requiring him to rely on constant oxygen support to sustain his life as his health deteriorated.

Patient’s reliance on external oxygen lifted

Following a thorough evaluation, the medical team from Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad, made the critical decision to proceed with a life-saving double lung transplant as soon as a suitable donor became available. The surgical procedure was carried out successfully and the transplanted lungs gradually regained full functionality. When the patient was discharged from the hospital, he was no longer reliant on oxygen assistance.

The intricate bilateral lung transplantation was carried out by a team of highly experienced medical professionals at Yashoda Hospitals. The doctors included Dr KR Balasubromaniam, a consultant robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgeon; Dr Chetan Rao Vaddepally, consultant interventional and transplant pulmonologist; Dr Manjunath Bale, consultant robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgeon; Dr Vimi Varghese, consultant transplant pulmonologist; Dr G Sricharan, transplant intensivist and anesthesiologists Dr Ravi Kanth and Dr Vikram Naidu.

Speaking about the case, Dr Chetan Rao said, “Performing this complex surgery is an example of the exemplary skill of our transplant team and the life-extending benefits of transplant surgery. The patient is responding well to the bilateral lung transplant. Lung transplants in India have picked up in recent years. Several patients with end-stage lung disease can be saved through lung transplants.”

Dr KR Balasubramoniam explained the procedure in detail. “The surgical challenge in this patient’s case was to remove the diseased rock-like lungs, plastered in the chest cavity and to the heart. It was amazing to see him recover so fast and leave the hospital without oxygen support within two weeks after a major surgery. Lung transplantation can improve the quality of life of patients, who have end-stage respiratory failure.”