CHENNAI: Ahead of World Heart Day, doctors successfully conducted India’s first re-do transplant after 8 years of the first heart transplant on a 36-year-old Reena Raju at a private hospital in Chennai.
In 2009, Reena suffered a viral infection that affected her heart and led to severe heart muscle dysfunction. She underwent a heart transplant surgery at Frontier Lifeline Hospital. The flag bearer in the Transplant Olympics held in Malaga, Spain in June 2017, Reena represented India in 100 m sprint and mixed doubles badminton after her first heart transplant.
She experienced a sudden deterioration in her symptoms and was diagnosed with Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy a few months back.
She suffered episodes of loss of consciousness and was immediately rushed to hospital in an unstable condition.
The patient was put on a ventilator/intra-aortic balloon pump and ECMO support and registered for urgent repeat heart transplant.
On September 23, a repeat heart transplant was performed and she is recovering well.
The case was first cardiac allograft Vasculopathy after 8 years of the first heart transplant performed in India.
