In what could be termed as a wave of heart transplant revolution in Mumbai, cross-border corridors between two states, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh saved the life of an Orissa resident suffering from a severe heart disease. This is the twelfth heart transplant to take place in Mumbai

In what could be termed as a wave of heart transplant revolution in Mumbai, cross-border corridors between two states, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh saved the life of an Orissa resident suffering from a severe heart disease. This is the twelfth heart transplant to take place in Mumbai. A 22-year-old male recipient suffering from Dilated Cardiomyopathy received a new lease of life thanks to a 20-year-old man from Indore, who was declared brain-dead on Sunday at Choitaram Hospital, Indore. Minute-to-minute precision enabled the heart to reach Fortis Hospital, Mulund within an hour and 56 minutes covering 546 kms through air and road.

Commencing its journey from MGM Medical College and Hospital, Indore, where the patient was declared brain-dead and the family consented for donation of the heart and liver; the donor was shifted to Choitaram Hospital, Indore for evaluation and assessment. The donor's kin consented to donate his heart, liver and kidneys thus saving four precious lives. Dr Anvay Mulay, chief cardiac surgeon of Fortis Hospital, Mulund, rushed from Mumbai to Choitaram Hospital, to harvest the donor's heart, which left for its journey to the city at 12.20 pm.

The liver was sent to another patient on the waiting list at Delhi. The donor's heart reached Indore Airport at 12.43PM and was immediately moved into a Jet Airways commercial flight, which took off at 12.55 pm and landed at Mumbai's Domestic Airport at 1.53 pm. A standby ambulance enabled swift transfer of the heart, which reached Fortis Hospital at 02.14 pm, following the Green Corridor route laid out from Domestic Airport to the hospital. It was moved straight to the OT and Dr Mulay immediately commenced the transplant procedure.

Talking about the surgery, he said, "This is the twelfth heart transplant since we conducted the first here in August last year. These success stories stand as a strong testimony that patients with end stage heart failure now have hope. This young patient is now stable and will be kept under observation for the next 48-72 hours in the ICU. I appreciate the courage the donor's kin have showed today, they helped save another young life".