Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, part of the Fortis Healthcare Network, has performed India’s first adult lung transplant using lungs from a paediatric donor. The complex procedure gave a new lease of life to a 39-year-old woman from West Bengal suffering from advanced Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (RA-ILD).
The woman had battled RA-ILD for six years, a progressive condition that causes severe lung scarring and breathing difficulties. Despite continuous treatment, her oxygen requirement rose from one litre per minute to eight litres per minute, severely affecting her daily life.
Finding a Suitable Donor
The patient consulted Dr. Govini Balasubramani, Director, Heart & Lung Transplant, along with pulmonologists Dr. Sindhura Koganti, Dr. Vimi Varghese and Dr. Sushmita Roychowdhury, to explore the possibility of a lung transplant. However, finding a suitable donor proved difficult because of her height, weight and the advanced stage of her disease. Meanwhile, her worsening condition led to repeated hospital admissions.
A breakthrough came when government authorities informed the transplant team about a 13-year-old brain-dead donor following a road accident. As per the press release, the team conducted an extensive evaluation and concluded that the pediatric lungs could be safely transplanted into the adult recipient despite significant size and anatomical differences.
Complex Surgery Successfully Completed
The surgery involved significant technical challenges, particularly in connecting the donor’s blood vessels and airways to the recipient’s anatomy. Nevertheless, the multidisciplinary team successfully completed the transplant without using artificial pump support.
“This was a highly complex transplant because of the significant size mismatch between the donor and recipient lungs. We are deeply grateful to the donor family for their selfless decision, which gave our patient a second chance at life. This case demonstrates the transformative impact of organ donation and the possibilities of advanced transplant care in India,” said Dr. Govini Balasubramani.
Rapid Recovery Marks Major Milestone
The patient recovered remarkably well. Doctors removed her ventilator support on the first postoperative day, she began walking independently without oxygen by the third day, and the hospital discharged her on the 12th postoperative day. She has now resumed her daily activities without oxygen support.
The hospital said the achievement marks a significant milestone in Indian transplantation. Pediatric donor lungs are rarely used for adult recipients because of size mismatch and surgical complexity. However, the successful outcome could help expand donor utilisation, improve transplant access and reduce wait-list mortality for patients with end-stage lung disease.
Hospital Leadership Hails Achievement
- Y. Bharath Kanth Reddy, Chief Executive Officer, Chennai & Hyderabad Cluster, Gleneagles Hospitals, said the landmark procedure reflects the hospital’s commitment to advanced, patient-centric care and demonstrates how innovative transplant techniques can create new opportunities for critically ill patients.
- Niranjani, Chief Operating Officer and Hospital Head, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, said the milestone highlights the hospital’s focus on clinical excellence, multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation in managing complex medical conditions.
Dr. Biswarup Pal, Head of Medical Services, added that the successful transplant underscores the strength of coordinated multidisciplinary care while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety.