From Near Death to Recovery: A Medical Miracle
Six months ago, 57-year-old Shirish Bengeri from Pune stood on the brink of death. His heart had failed, his liver was shutting down, and doctors feared the worst. Today, he is walking, rediscovering his love for music, and rebuilding his life—thanks to Mumbai’s first successful simultaneous heart-and-liver transplant performed at Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, Girgaon.
India’s First “Supra-Urgent” Dual-Organ Transplant Survivor
As reported by hindustantimes, Bengeri is now likely India’s first patient to survive a “supra-urgent” heart-and-liver transplant—a feat rarely seen even on the global stage. The procedure marked a historic moment for Indian medicine.
From 46 to 59 Kilos: A Sign of Recovery
“When I left the hospital, I weighed just 46 or 47 kg. Now, I’m 59,” Bengeri shared with a smile. “That weight gain shows my body is accepting the new organs. It was hard at first, but I feel much better now.” He now walks twice daily under the guidance of a physiotherapist and continues to regain his strength. A passionate singer and former senior corporate executive, Bengeri has taken early retirement and is working toward returning to music. “I’ve already recorded 240 songs. I’m doing vocal exercises, yoga, and chanting to get my voice back,” he said.
A Downward Spiral That Triggered Emergency Action
Initially, doctors listed Bengeri for a heart transplant after diagnosing him with ischemic cardiomyopathy, a condition caused by reduced blood flow that weakens the heart. However, his health deteriorated rapidly. Doctors admitted him in cardiogenic shock with multiple organ dysfunction. To keep him alive, doctors implanted a Biventricular Assist Device (BIVAD)—a mechanical pump that temporarily replaced his failing heart and sustained his vital organs.
Just days later, another blow struck—Bengeri developed hepatic encephalopathy, indicating severe liver failure. A reassessment showed he wouldn’t survive with a heart transplant alone. He urgently needed a combined heart-and-liver transplant.
Decision to Transplant Both Organs Under Intense Time Pressure
“Initially, we believed the liver would recover once the heart was supported,” said Dr Anvay Mulay, Director of Advanced Cardiac Surgery and Heart Transplant at Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital. “But within three to four days, the liver began to deteriorate rapidly. The liver team concluded that he couldn’t survive without both transplants.”
Surgeons had attempted dual-organ transplants before—in Chennai and Mumbai—but they performed them as elective procedures, and tragically, neither patient survived. Bengeri’s case was unique because of the emergency setting and the unplanned addition of the liver transplant, making it a rare life-or-death scenario.
A Timely Donor and Back-to-Back Surgeries
A 38-year-old donor from Pune turned out to be Bengeri’s lifeline. Given the heart’s shorter cold ischemia time, doctors transplanted it first, followed by the liver. Two expert surgical teams led by Dr Mulay and Dr Ravi Mohanka, Director of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, performed the high-risk, back-to-back procedure.
“The risk of bleeding was immense due to compromised liver function,” said Dr Mohanka. “But both organs began functioning immediately. It was a massive success—surgically, logistically, and clinically.”
A Landmark Discharge and National Impact
Bengeri was discharged on December 19, 2024, after nearly two months of intensive recovery. According to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), India recorded 40 multi-organ transplants in 2023, including 17 heart-lung and 23 kidney-pancreas transplants. Notably, there were no recorded heart-liver transplants, underscoring the rarity of Bengeri’s case. Officials are still compiling data for 2024.
“In emergency situations, patients requiring multiple organs are given priority,” said Anil Kumar, Director of NOTTO. Dr Mulay added, “We plan to submit this case to an international transplant journal. The world needs to know that survival is possible, even in emergency dual-organ transplants.”
Gratitude and a New Beginning
For Bengeri, survival is not just a medical miracle—it’s a second chance at life. “Someone, somewhere, gave me their heart and liver,” he reflected. “I carry that responsibility, and their gift, with me every day.”