MGM Healthcare Performs Historic Back-to-Back Heart and Lung Transplants ~ Dr. KR Balakrishnan and team have performed four heart and one dual lung transplant within 30 hours. Chennai,

MGM Healthcare Performs Historic Back-to-Back Heart and Lung Transplants ~ Dr. KR Balakrishnan and team have performed four heart and one dual lung transplant within 30 hours. Chennai, 

 MGM Healthcare is proud to announce yet another landmark achievement in medical history with the completion of a marathon of heart and lung transplant surgeries, where four heart transplants and one bilateral lung transplant were successfully performed within 30 hours. Dr. K R Balakrishnan, Director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, and Dr. Suresh Rao KG, Co-Director of the Institute, led a dedicated team that rose to the challenge, seamlessly performing these transplants. This extraordinary accomplishment highlights our hospital's unparalleled capabilities in organ transplantation. MGM Healthcare stands as the only hospital in India capable of performing multiple organ transplants consecutively. This achievement required exemplary readiness and coordination among various departments, including surgical suites, organ transplant units, cardiology, imaging, ultrasound, intensive care, and nursing. Details of the transplants: 1) A 60-year-old patient, Mr. Surendra Kumar (name changed), underwent a heart transplant on May 25, 2024. The organ from a deceased donor was transported from a Chennai-based hospital. The heart was harvested at 1:10 PM and brought to MGM Healthcare at 1:50 PM. 2) A 50-year-old patient, Mr. Radhakrishnan (name changed), underwent a heart transplant on May 25, 2024. The organ was from a deceased donor from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. The heart was harvested at 10:52 PM and brought to MGM Healthcare at 11:05 PM. 3) A 67-year-old patient, Mr. Sailesh (name changed), underwent a bilateral lung transplantation on May 25, 2024. The organ was from a deceased donor from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH). The lungs were harvested at 10:52 PM and brought to MGM Healthcare at 11:05 PM (same donor as above). 4) A 40- year-old patient, Mr. Mohammed Aslam (name changed), underwent a heart transplant on May 26, 2024. The organ was from a brain-dead donor from MGM Healthcare. The organ was harvested at 11:44 AM, and the transplant was performed shortly after. 5) A 50-year-old patient, Mr. Nitish Singh (name changed), underwent a heart transplant on May 26, 2024. The organ was from a deceased donor from a Coimbatore-based hospital. The heart was harvested at 2:45 PM, airlifted from Coimbatore at 4:00 PM, and reached MGM Healthcare by 5:15 PM. Dr. K.R. Balakrishnan, Director, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, stated, "This achievement was made possible only by the relentless efforts of our multidisciplinary team. From transplant coordinators to the surgical team, nurses, and post-operative care units, every member played a crucial role in ensuring the success of these five complex transplants. Being prepared to perform back-to-back surgeries is a strength in itself; the pressure is immense, especially as we were receiving donor organs that matched five of our patients on the waitlist. Every second counts, and the margin for error isvirtually non-existent. Each surgery is a lifeline for a patient waiting for a second chance at life, 

and each case comes with its own complexities, from the donor-recipient match to the recipient's 

physical and mental demands."

Dr. KG. Suresh Rao, Co-Director, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical 

Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, “Our unit has done more than 650 heart and lung 

transplants so far. The timing of donor organ availability is unpredictable. Somehow we got 

multiple donor matches, and we have completed five continuous transplants within 30 hours; this 

time it was a marathon surgery. It requires a dedicated team with full commitment, informed team 

coordination, and good infrastructure; all this is present at MGM Healthcare, and we could achieve 

it.” 

Mr. Harish Manian, Group CEO of MGM Healthcare, commented, “It’s not just about the 

advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities, but the exceptional talent and unwavering 

dedication of our doctors at MGM Healthcare. Their ability to maintain peak performance under 

such intense pressure speaks volumes about their professionalism and commitment to patient 

care. Heart and lung transplantation is among the most complex and delicate procedures in 

medicine, requiring unparalleled skill, precision, and dedication. Each successful transplant is a 

beacon of hope and has a direct impact on the lives of patients and their families. This remarkable 

feat exemplifies our hospital's mission to deliver cutting-edge, compassionate care. It’s moments 

like these that highlight the profound difference we can make in the world, one life at a time. Our 

mission at MGM Healthcare is to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare; heart and 

lung transplants are a perfect example of this. The dedication and skill of our medical 

professionals inspire us all to strive for excellence, ensuring that we provide the best possible 

care for those who need it most.”

MGM Healthcare facilitated the transportation of five donor organs via dedicated green corridors, 

ensuring timely arrival crucial for the patients' survival. This effort was supported by local law 

enforcement and traffic management authorities, allowing for rapid and unhindered passage from 

the donor hospitals to MGM Healthcare.

This remarkable accomplishment sets a new benchmark in transplant surgery and showcases the 

exceptional skill, endurance, and dedication of the team led by Dr. K R Balakrishnan, Dr. KG 

Suresh Rao, Dr. Ravikumar and Dr. Soumitra Sinha Roy. MGM Healthcare continues to be a 

leader in heart and lung transplants in India, having completed more than 650 heart and lung

transplants with success rates on par with the finest medical centers in the world.

About MGM Healthcare

Born out of a need for altruism, MGM Healthcare is obsessed with bettering patient experiences and improving clinical 

outcomes through expertise, passion and technology. The manifestation of this dedication to superlative health-caring 

is a state-of-the-art hospital on Nelson Manickam Road having 400 beds, 50 out-patient consultation rooms, over 100 

critical care beds, 250+ Doctors, 12 Centers of excellence, 30+ Clinical Departments, 12 state-of-the-art Operating 

Theatres and 24 x 7 comprehensive Emergency Care. Here, a host of eminent surgeons and physicians wield a potent 

combination of skill and cutting-edge technology to elevate care and outcomes to new levels. MGM Healthcare is the 

first hospital in Asia with the highest rated USGBC LEED Platinum-certified Green Hospital.

Over the past year, the team of clinical experts at MGM Healthcare have performed many innovative and complex 

surgeries in the pursuit of establishing trust and clinical excellence. MGM Healthcare designed and equipped with the 

latest in technology and equipment is poised to drive patient centricity and clinical excellence of both the domestic and 

international patients.