First-ever paediatric heart transplant performed in Tamil Nadu government hospital

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu performed its first paediatric heart transplant at the Government Multi Super-Specialty Hospital in the Omandurar Estate. The heart, harvested from a 26-year-old brain-dead person, was transplanted on a 10-year-old boy from Kancheepuram district. The boy is now recuperating at the hospital after the 14th day of the surgery.

M Praveen Kumar, the younger son of D Munusamy and M Jesi, who hails from Santhananthapuram in Kancheepuram, was diagnosed with the heart disease when he was seven-years-old.

“It would start with a persistent cough and end in breathing difficulty. We took him to a few private hospitals and the doctors there said Praveen’s heart was swollen. They referred us to the  Institute of Child Health, Egmore. Praveen used to be hospitalised often and would be wheeled into the ICU,” Munusamy, a daily wager,  recollected.

Sharing their ordeal, Jesi said that though her son was on medication for three years, it did not ease his suffering. “We were devastated when doctors said he required a heart transplant. We did not know what to do and whom to approach. A few suggested a private hospital in Chennai and told us that the transplant would cost lakhs.  Tears welled up in our eyes as we were struggling to make ends meet,” Jesi added.

“It was then that the local MLA referred us to this hospital with a letter. We did not expect such facilities at the government hospital. Everyone here - from doctors, staff to housekeeping workers- treated my son as their own,” says Munusamy, wiping his tears.

They said they were ecstatic to see their son speak and play now. They said that they hoped more people were made aware of the facilities available for underprivileged children in the government hospital.  
Praveen was admitted to the hospital on December 27, 2017, and was being treated for three months before being discharged. His name was registered in the organ registry before he was sent home.
The doctors harvested the heart from a brain-dead man from MIOT Hospital on May  24. The patient was taken for surgery at 2 am on the day and heart arrived at 4 am.

“It took us four and a half hours to complete the surgery. Praveen was diagnosed with Myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of heart muscle caused by viral infection leading to dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood effectively,” said Dr S Manoharan, chief of Cardio-Thoracic department who performed the transplant.

“The pumping rate of the heart for any normal person is 65-70, but Praveen’s pumping  rate was only 25 to 30. This leads to breathlessness, and hospitalisation,” Dr Manoharan said. “He is doing well and is fit to be discharged now,” said the doctor.

The doctor also said Cardio-Thoracic Department of the Government Multi Super-Specialty Hospital has performed six heart transplants so far, out of which four have been successful. The surgery was covered under Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.