Pune Hospital’s Groundbreaking Airlift: Lungs for Transplant from Surat
Pune, 6th November 2023: A remarkable medical achievement occurred at the DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital in Pimpri, Pune. In a life-saving effort, a set of lungs were airlifted from Surat to Pune through a charter air carrier, marking a groundbreaking moment as donated lungs were transported across state borders. This extraordinary journey involved the creation of a green corridor from Civil Hospital in Surat to Surat Airport, continuing on to Pune Airport, and finally reaching DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital in Pimpri, Pune.
The recipient of this life-changing organ transplant was a 53-year-old woman suffering from chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis due to prolonged exposure to pigeons. Her condition had deteriorated significantly, leading to respiratory failure and the need for non-invasive ventilatory support. She had been on the waiting list for a bilateral lung transplant.
On September 28, 2023, a suitable organ donor was identified, a 42-year-old male from Surat Civil Hospital, thanks to an alert from ROTTO and Maharashtra SOTTO through Pune ZTCC. Upon receiving this vital information, a team of medical professionals, including a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon and a Transplant Pulmonologist, along with paramedical staff, promptly departed for Surat. The organ retrieval occurred at 4:00 pm, and within 2 hours and 15 minutes, the organ was transported from the donor’s body to DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital in Pimpri, Pune, arriving at approximately 6:15 pm. The success of this intricate process was a testament to the dedication and efforts of the hospital’s entire medical team and healthcare staff.
The decision to transport the organ via a charter air carrier was made to prevent any delays that could lead to ischemic changes in the organ, potentially compromising its viability. The green corridor was established with the support of both Surat and Pune Traffic Police Departments. The organ reached Pune on September 29, 2023, and the transplant surgery was successfully performed on the same day. The patient is expected to be discharged in the coming week, marking a life-changing moment in her health journey.
Dr. P.D. Patil, Chancellor of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, expressed his pride in the hospital’s growing multi-organ transplant program and its ability to provide state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, emphasizing the significance of this successful case in saving lives.
Dr. Bhagyashree P. Patil, Pro-Chancellor of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, underlined the hospital’s commitment to offering top-notch healthcare infrastructure to address complex health conditions and provide new possibilities for deserving patients. She also expressed gratitude to the Traffic Police Departments of Surat and Pune and congratulated the hospital’s skilled medical team.
Dr. Yashraj Patil, Trustee & Treasurer of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, extended his appreciation to the doctors and affirmed the institution’s dedication to delivering the best healthcare facilities for critical treatments.
Dr. Manisha Karmarkar, Chief Executive Officer of DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, emphasized the hospital’s advanced healthcare infrastructure and experienced medical professionals, highlighting their goal to create a world-class healthcare ecosystem through technology integration for the benefit of their patients. The seamless coordination in airlifting the organ and establishing the green corridor demonstrated the hospital’s operational excellence.
Dr. Sandeep Attawar, Director of Heart and Lung Transplants at DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, expressed the joy of saving a precious life and credited their ability to act swiftly upon receiving the organ, thanks to the world-class amenities and robust infrastructure at the hospital. This achievement underscored their capacity to perform complex surgeries with ease.
