How Hyderabad doctors performed complex heart transplant on polio-ridden man

Hyderabad: Bhaskar, a 45-year-old tailor from Khammam district, had been suffering from severe heart disease for years, a condition that was further complicated by his partial polio.

Over the past three years, his heart condition worsened significantly, leading to irregular heartbeats and an insufficient blood supply, which caused a range of debilitating health issues.

Bhaskar's declining health left him confined to bed, unable to carry out daily activities due to extreme fatigue.

The severity of his condition necessitated a heart transplant, a complex and high-risk procedure. The surgery, which lasted five hours, involved the removal of Bhaskar's failing heart and the implantation of a new heart from a brain-dead donor. This operation required the precise reconnection of blood vessels and valves to ensure the new heart functioned properly.

Kamineni Hospital in LB Nagar, Hyderabad, undertook this procedure, marking India's first successful heart transplant on a polio survivor. The transplant team, led by Dr. Vishal V. Khante, Head of the Heart Transplant Department and Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, and Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, Consultant Heart Transplant and Cardiothoracic Surgeon, meticulously carried out the surgery.

“Following the successful surgery, Bhaskar is on the path to recovery and is gradually regaining his ability to engage in daily activities. Previously confined to bed due to extreme fatigue, he can now walk significant distances and looks forward to resuming his normal life. However, post-surgery, Bhaskar requires intensive monitoring and ongoing medication to prevent organ rejection, and our team is constantly monitoring his condition,” commented Dr. Vishal V. Khante.

Dr. Gayatri Kamineni, COO of Kamineni Hospitals, expressed pride in the achievement, saying, “This successful surgery highlights the medical capabilities of our hospital. I thank all doctors including Dr. Vishal Khante, Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Suresh Kumar Esampalli, Chief Cardiac Anaesthetist and Dr. Ravali Sade, Consultant Anaesthetist, the dedicated ICU staff, and the nursing team, for having played crucial roles in this surgery.”

Bhaskar, who has got a new lease on life, expressed profound gratitude to the doctors at Kamineni Hospital. "Without their expertise and dedication, I wouldn't have survived this ordeal," he acknowledged.

He continues to follow the prescribed medical regimen and attends regular consultations to ensure his recovery remains on track.