First bloodless heart transplant in Asia and India was conducted at this hospital

Srinagar: Marengo CIMS Hospital Ahmedabad is positioned today as an advanced center for heart transplants with a clinical excellence team well recognized globally. The team of doctors performs double-digit numbers annually to gain the reputation they have today. The team of doctors is led by Dr Dhiren Shah, Director Heart Transplant Program.
Heart transplantation has emerged as a well-established treatment for advanced heart failure over the past four to five decades. The last decade has witnessed a remarkable global surge in the number of heart transplant procedures, seeing an increase of more than 300% worldwide and surpassing a 400% increase in the United States alone. The Western world, particularly North America, experienced a significant uptick in heart transplant numbers, particularly since the 1980s, with annual procedures ranging from 3000 to 4000. However, the growth has plateaued, primarily due to limitations in the availability of organs for donation.
Despite the heart transplant procedure having started in 1994 in India, the high-end surgery did not become a preferred option for patients with end-stage heart failure until 2010. In fact, it was only by 2019 that India performed 1000 heart transplants, after almost 25 years after the Transplantation of Human Organs Act was passed by the Government of India. India is now in an enviable position to offer affordable and accessible quality healthcare to patients globally and we are fast emerging as a preferred destination for medical treatment solutions.
Dr Dhiren Shah, Director Heart Transplant Program says, There are several compelling reasons for heart transplantation to become a preferred option for patients with end-stage heart failure. A heart transplant is often the only life-saving intervention for patients who have exhausted other medical treatments and interventions. This surgical procedure significantly improves the quality of life for patients by restoring normal heart function and allowing them to engage in activities they were previously unable to perform. Heart transplantation also offers a potential long-term survival and improved prognosis, especially when the transplant surgery is successful. Symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and shortness of breath are overcome with a new heart, opening a realm of quality life for the patient.”
The state of Gujarat has emerged to position itself as a leader in heart transplants. With organ donation improving steadily in the past few years, Gujarat stands as a leader in the realm of organ transplants. Statistics revealed that organ donation was highest in the southern parts of India and consequently, the hospitals in the South ruled the space of organ donation and transplant. With the increasing awareness, myths and doubts are dispelled and people are coming forward to embrace one of the highest forms of humanity and donate organs of their deceased family member.
Dr Dhiren Shah adds, In 2016, the Marengo CIMS Hospital in Ahmedabad received its heart transplantation license and the first heart transplantation in Gujarat was performed on 19th December 2016. With the heart transplant, which is undoubtedly the most celebrated and glorified transplant procedure, awareness about organ donation has rapidly increased reaching every corner of the state. Between 2017 and 2019, there was an almost 20% increase in deceased organ donations in Gujarat. Marengo CIMS Hospital was still the only hospital performing heart transplants in Gujarat and the numbers were steadily growing. When COVID-19 struck in 2020 the spirit of organ donation was high. Even during the lockdown, Gujarat did India’s first deceased organ donation during the pandemic where heart, liver, and kidneys were retrieved. Deceased donation has doubled in Gujarat compared to 36 donations in 2020 to 70 donations in 2021 and the number of organs donated increased from 110 to 223 organs in 2020 and 2021 respectively.”
The Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad marked its 100 deceased organ donations within a period of two years with 77 livers, 152 kidneys, 23 hearts, and 18 lungs donated.
Currently, there are 76 centers in India that are registered as heart transplant centers and perform heart transplants. Out of these only 5-8 centers in India perform heart transplants in double digits annually. Marengo CIMS Hospital is one of them.
Despite the horrifying second wave of COVID-19, Marengo CIMS Hospital, Ahmedabad performed 14 heart transplants in 2021, nine of which were done in the last two months of the year. In fact, three heart transplants were performed in a span of six days in December 2021. The dream run of organ donation in Gujarat continued in 2022, reaching a magical figure of 100 deceased organ donations in eight months’ time and proclaiming Gujarat as one of the states with the highest deceased organ donations in the country. medical colleges in India with its exemplary contribution to the deceased donation program.

KR Desk