Heart and Lung Transplants: Narayana Health City Delivers

Narayana Health City, a leader in advanced cardiothoracic care and organ transplantation, made headlines = while highlighting its excellence in patient care and cutting-edge medical treatments. A distinguished panel of four eminent doctors—Dr. Aditi Singhvi, Dr. Syed Tousheed, Dr. Bagirath R, and Dr. Julius Punnen—discussed two highly complex case studies involving heart and lung transplants, underscoring the institution’s leadership in the field.

The first case featured a 66-year-old male patient from Kanpur, who had been struggling with severely reduced ejection fraction (25%) after an angioplasty. Despite initial treatment, his condition worsened, leading to frequent hospitalizations and an inability to function. Under the expert leadership of Dr. Aditi Singhvi, Clinical Lead for Adult Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at Narayana Health City, the patient was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure, necessitating a heart transplant.

Following a thorough evaluation, the patient was registered as a heart transplant candidate. In October 2023, a suitable donor became available, and the heart transplant was successfully performed. Over a year post-surgery, the patient has shown remarkable recovery and is now leading a healthy, active life. Dr. Singhvi, along with her colleagues Dr. Bagirath R, Dr. Varun Shetty, Dr. Julius Punnen, and Dr. Kumaran T, spoke about the complexities involved in transplant surgeries and the critical role of post-operative care.

“It’s always a moment of immense satisfaction when we see our patients thriving after such a high-stakes procedure,” said Dr. Singhvi. “Heart transplantation requires meticulous planning, but with a dedicated team and state-of-the-art facilities, we can offer the best possible care to our patients.”

The patient, Rajesh Kumar (name changed for confidentiality), expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating, “When I first learned about my condition, I felt hopeless. But thanks to the team at Narayana Health City, I was given a second chance at life. The transplant has completely transformed my health. I’m able to do things now that I never thought I would be able to do again.”

The second case presented was that of a 30-year-old woman, Ayesha Malik (name changed for confidentiality), who had been suffering from a congenital heart defect known as sinus venosus atrial septal defect with a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC). The condition had progressed, leading to life-threatening complications, including recurrent hospitalizations and bouts of coughing up blood.

Despite initial medical interventions, Malik’s condition continued to deteriorate, necessitating a combined heart and lung transplant. She was registered for the transplant in January 2023 and was fortunate to receive suitable donor organs in December 2023. The transplant was successful, and today, Malik is recovering well, thanks to the multidisciplinary team involved in her care.

Founded by the visionary Dr. Devi Shetty and headquartered in Bengaluru, Narayana Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in India. As the second-largest healthcare group in the country, it operates a wide range of super-specialty tertiary care centers, positioning itself as a global healthcare leader.