Pune donor's heart reaches Thane hospital via green corridor

A green corridor was created in the wee hours today to transport a harvested heart of a man, who was declared brain dead in Pune, for an emergency heart transplant surgery of a teenage boy at a hospital in Mulund in the district.

The heart, that set out its journey from Pune's Ruby Hall clinic at 1.38 am reached the operation theatre in FortisHospital at 3.13 am covering a distance of around 188 kms.

The heart was brought to the hospital via Mumbai-Pune expressway and traffic departments in Pune, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai and Highway police coordinated to ensure that it reaches the recipient as quickly as possible.

"The transplant became possible after a 28-year-old man was declared brain dead at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, following a head injury during a road accident. His family consented to donate his heart, kidneys and liver, to save lives of four deserving recipients," an official release from FortisHospital said.

The heart transplant surgery was conducted on a 14-year-old male recipient from Borivali, who was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy.

"The Traffic and Police teams across Pune, Raigad, Mumbai and Thane districts, came together to plan and execute the Green Corridor between Pune and Mumbai. Over 150 personnel across the route ensured that the ambulance carrying the preserved heart reached Mumbai in record-break time, covering 188 kms in 1hr 35mins," it added.

The harvested heart was then received by Dr Anvay Mulay, Head of Cardiac Transplant Team in FortisHospital, who had the recipient prepared for the surgery.

Speaking about the latest heart transplant surgery, Dr Mulay added, "The donor's family deserves highest appreciation for having saved so many lives through their noble gesture.

Our young patient is now stable and has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit. Next 48-72 hours will be critical and we will be closely monitoring him."