The Apollo Hospitals Group today demonstrated its leadership in the field of organ transplants with the announcement of the first double Lung Transplant during the Covid pandemic in India.
The patient was a 39-year-old whose lung condition deteriorated significantly in the months before the transplant when the country was in lockdown due to the pandemic. He was put on ECMO or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation to support his heart and lungs till the donor’s lungs were available.
The double lung transplant surgery took place successfully on July 29,2020, at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, and after a robust recovery, the transplant recipient was discharged on August 27, 2020.
Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Our transplant program has come a long way since its inception in 1995. This double lung transplant during Covid times is an exemplary achievement and has only been possible due to our relentless focus on adopting the latest medical advances and technology to reinforce our leadership position in the healthcare space. I am proud to say that today with over 90% success rates for multiple transplants in India, Apollo Hospitals organ transplant center is a beacon of quality and hope for patients not just from India, but from across the world.”
Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The successful double lung transplant during the Covid pandemic is a feather in our transplant program’s cap! Since its inception, our organ transplant program has evolved and expanded, building on the Apollo Group’s talent and infrastructure, to facilitate new locations while continuing to deliver clinical expertise employing state-of-the-art technology.”
Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “As a pioneer, Apollo Hospitals has continued to invest in the best of technology to support our organ transplant program. There are nearly 2 million people on the organ transplant waiting list around the world. The demand for organs is increasing with advances in transplant medicine leading to successful outcomes for patients with end-stage disease and giving them the gift of life. Today, we follow gold standards in organ transplantation to ensure results that are among the best in the world.”
Dr. T Sunder, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Heart, and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai said, “Performing a transplant surgery during a pandemic presents many medical and logistic challenges to ensure the safety of recipients, family members, and healthcare personnel. A dedicated post-operative transplant care medical team does not cross over and examine other patients further ensuring safety. Limiting physical contact with the recipient has been a feature of our transplant team since the inception of the Apollo Hospitals’ transplant program. This has helped us in maintaining excellent long term outcomes with low infection rates.”
The number of patients waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant far exceeds the number of available donor organs, and the need for organ transplants is increasing. When the patient’s condition deteriorates while waiting for a donor organ, ECMO or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation comes to the rescue.
Dr.Madan Kumar K, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai and a member of the transplant team said, “Apart from using ECMO as a bridge to recovery as well as for the most number of the bridge to lung transplants, with a 75% success rate using this demanding procedure, we also have on record the patient who spent the longest time on ECMO – 46 days – prior to a successful lung transplant.”
Dr. Paul Ramesh Thangaraj, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai said, “Organ transplants are among the most challenging, but rewarding procedures. Our transplant centers are equipped with sophisticated technology to ensure the best possible infrastructure for our patients.
Our Organ Transplant Surgeons and allied teams work with the organ donor in case of a living donor, and recipient before, during, and after surgery to ensure the greatest likelihood of superior results. The successful double lung transplant during Covid period is a testament to our excellence and expertise built over the past decades.”
The Apollo Hospitals Group is at the forefront in laying down the benchmark for accessible and affordable world-class healthcare in India with the best of experienced doctors supported by an infrastructure that consists of the latest and most advanced medical technology available.
Apollo Hospitals Group is a leader in the field of organ transplants and is one of the best organ transplant hospitals in India. The first successful pediatric and adult liver transplants in India were performed at Apollo Hospitals in November 1998.
The Apollo Hospitals’ organ transplant team is staffed with some of the finest and experienced transplant surgeons in the country delivering the highest standards of care. Specialists from a variety of fields and a support staff that includes transplant coordinators, social workers, psychiatrists, and anaesthesiologists ably support them.