Vizag bizman gets new life after successful heart transplant under Jeevandan program

Hyderabad: A Vizag businessman got a new life when doctors at CARE Hospitals successfully transplanted a new heart into the 54-year-old patient.

The donor heart was transported through a green corridor from Srikakulam to Vizag.

D. Chandra Sekher Patro, a businessman from a joint family, was diagnosed with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCMP) and recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia. He had previously undergone AICD implantation but remained at high risk. He was later listed under the Jeevandan organ donation programme for a heart transplant, his final treatment option.

Donor Heart Rushed From Srikakulam to Vizag

On October 25, a matching donor heart became available in Srikakulam. With minutes making the difference, district police in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam created a green corridor to transport the organ across districts.

Visakhapatnam Additional DCP (Traffic) K. Praveen Kumar said, “Our immediate priority was to ensure an uninterrupted route for the organ transport vehicle. The green corridor was executed swiftly and precisely across key junctions, allowing the heart to reach CARE Hospitals without delay.”

Dr K. Ram Babu, Chief Co-ordinator – Jeevandan, added, “This successful heart transplant is a result of excellent coordination between the retrieval hospital, transplant centre, police authorities, and the Jeevandan team. Such efficient teamwork ensures that organs reach recipients within the golden time.”

The Transplant: A High-Risk Procedure

Once the heart arrived, the transplant was performed by the in-house Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) team led by cardiac surgeon Dr L. Vijay.

Speaking about the procedure, Dr Vijay said, “Heart transplantation is one of the most complex procedures in medicine. It demands precision, rapid coordination, and advanced expertise. Safely retrieving the donor heart, preserving it, transporting it across districts, and re-implanting it in the recipient requires seamless teamwork.”

He added: “Having highly experienced surgeons, cardiac anaesthetists, specially trained supporting staff, and state-of-the-art facilities gave us the confidence to take up this challenging case and complete it successfully.”

Following surgery and post-operative care, Mr. Patro recovered steadily and was discharged on 6 November 2025. At his first follow-up, he was walking without distress, and his cardiac function and blood parameters were stable.

Hospital’s Role and Regional Impact

This transplant underscores a larger shift in eastern India’s healthcare landscape. For years, patients from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of the Northeast travelled to metro cities for advanced cardiac interventions.

CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam COO Sukhesh Reddy said, “This successful heart transplant reinforces Visakhapatnam’s position as a healthcare hub for the region. It shows that patients no longer need to depend on metro cities for complex cardiac procedures.”

A Step Forward for Transplant Capabilities

The operation highlights how coordinated systems, from organ retrieval teams to police units, are expanding access to life-saving transplant care. For Mr. Patro, the combined effort of hospital teams, the Jeevandan programme, and district police resulted in a second chance at life.

The transplant also aligns with this year’s World Heart Day theme, “Don’t Miss a Beat,” emphasising timely intervention for severe cardiac conditions.