Karnataka's First Heart Re-transplant: A Story of Resilience and Medical Expertise

27 June,2024

Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, performed a rare heart re-transplant for the first time in Karnataka. The procedure was done on a 32-year-old engineer who had been facing recurrent heart failure. A heart re-transplant is a complex cardiac surgery in which a patient receives a donor heart for the second time in their life.

Engineer Receives Life-Saving Second Heart Transplant

Sake Venkatesh is an IT employee working in Bangalore. He suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy and severe heart dysfunction. It caused irreversible damage to his heart, and an organ transplant was the only option to save his life.

He received his first donor heart in 2016 and remained complication-free till 2020. However, in 2020, he contracted a COVID-19 infection, which impacted his heart health. The engineer suffered from severe chest pain and backaches. The infection caused the narrowing of arteries (cardiac allograft vasculopathy) in the transplanted heart.

Sake Venkatesh went for a follow-up echocardiogram (ECHO) in 2022, which revealed severe biventricular dysfunction, a condition in which both sides of the heart are not able to function correctly. The doctors performed two angioplasties within six months to widen the narrowed arteries. However, they could not establish the blood flow due to poor heart health. All these complications necessitate a cardiac re-transplant.

Overcoming Complications: Successful Second Transplant

The patient underwent a second heart transplant in December 2023. Although Venkatesh S initially faced postoperative complications such as bleeding and rejection episodes, close monitoring and meticulous management by the heart specialists at Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, ensured a successful recovery. The patient has now completed his 6-month post-transplant period and remains free from complications.

While suffering from complex cardiac disease can be overwhelming for anyone, Venkatesh S got constant support from his family, including his father and wife. The couple was also blessed with a baby girl while he was recovering from the COVID-19 infection.

A Team Effort: Aster CMI Hospital Performs Groundbreaking Surgery

Prof. Dr. Nagamalesh U M, a leading Interventional Cardiologist in Bangalore, performed Venkatesh's first and second heart transplants. Till now, he has done 54+ heart transplants and 30,000+ other cardiac procedures. Dr. Nagamalesh said, "The patient's post-transplant course included significant bleeding events due to the second surgery and the ongoing requirement for blood thinners and rejections. However, these challenges were effectively managed through meticulous monitoring and regular endomyocardial biopsies. Notably, the patient's recovery demonstrates his remarkable resilience and the invaluable support of his loved ones."

Dr. Ganeshakrishnan Iyer, a Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon who has performed over 12,000 open heart surgeries, added, "Heart re-transplant was a complex procedure, requiring meticulous planning, exceptional skill from the entire team, and seamless communication throughout the process. I'm proud of the dedication and expertise displayed by every team member. This case exemplifies the power of collaboration in achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients."

Second Chance at Life: Venkatesh Recovers After Complex Procedure

Venkatesh S expressed his gratitude towards the entire team of cardiologists at Aster Hospital, Bangalore, and said, "The past few years have been a medical rollercoaster for me. Finding out I needed a second transplant was a setback; however, the exceptional team of surgeons extended their support throughout my treatment journey. My family was informed about the surgery, and all our queries were addressed. I am immensely grateful for their expertise and compassion. They have given me the gift of renewed health and the opportunity to look forward to the future."

A Milestone for Indian Medicine: Second Heart Re-transplant in the Country

Heart transplants are complex, intricate procedures. However, with a dedicated team of experts and a patient's solid willpower, the transplant can be done more than once.

Venkatesh's heart re-transplant was the first of its kind in the history of Karnataka and the second in India. Dr Jose Chacko Periyapuram performed the first heart re-transplant in India on Girish Kumar, another IT professional and a resident of Palakkad, Kerela. Girish Kumar recently completed his ten years after the procedure and was honored by the India Book of Records.

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