14-year-old girl gets new lease of life as SPCHC performs 27th heart transplant

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A 14-year-old girl received a new lease of life after doctors at Sri Padmavathi Children’s Heart Centre (SPCHC) in Tirupati successfully performed the institution’s 27th heart transplant, with a donor heart transported by road from Guntur in a race against time.

The heart was retrieved from a 38-year-old man who was declared brain-dead at KIMS Hospital in Guntur following a road accident. His family consented to organ donation, giving the critically ill girl a chance to live.

As no air ambulance was available, the donor heart was transported in a TTD vehicle from Guntur, leaving at 3 p.m. on Sunday (September 20). Physician assistant Vijay and perfusionist Shyam Babu of SPCHC accompanied the organ throughout the journey and remained in constant coordination with the transplant team.

The heart reached Tirupati at 7 p.m., following which the medical team immediately began the transplant procedure. The complex surgery, which lasted nearly eight hours, was completed successfully.

The transplant was performed under the coordination of SPCHC director N. Srinath Reddy and the leadership of chief cardiac surgeon Deepesh Trivedi. Cardiac anaesthesiologist Madhu Yadav and a multidisciplinary team of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, perfusionists, nurses and transplant specialists worked in close coordination during the procedure.

The girl is currently under continuous medical observation.

The transplant was performed as Tirumala was witnessing the annual Brahmotsavams. The donor family’s decision to donate the organs, the road transport team’s efforts and the medical team’s expertise helped give the young patient a second chance at life.

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