Organ transport crosses 178 km in under two hours
A donated heart was transported by road from Madurai to Perambalur in Tamil Nadu on September 2, covering a distance of around 178 km in 1 hour and 54 minutes, according to reports from ANI and The Hindu. The organ was carried from Madurai to the Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College Hospital at Siruvachur in Perambalur district, where it was successfully transplanted into a 43-year-old patient from Puducherry.
The heart began its journey from Madurai at 10:28 m. and reached the hospital at 12:22 , as per both outlets. The recipient, who had been undergoing treatment at the hospital, is currently in stable condition, doctors told ANI.
Donor and family consent
The donor was a 23-year-old man, a native of Sivaganga district, who sustained serious injuries in a road accident and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Madurai, The Hindu reported. He was subsequently declared brain dead. Following the consent of his family, his heart, kidneys, liver and other vital organs were donated for transplantation, according to The Hindu.
Police green corridor
The swift transport was enabled by a green corridor established along the Madurai–Tiruchi–Perambalur route. Central Zone Inspector General of Police V. Balakrishnan directed Tiruchi police personnel to regulate traffic along the route, as reported by both ANI and The Hindu. The green corridor ensured the organ reached the hospital safely within the critical time window, according to The Hindu.
Transplant and medical team
The successful transportation was followed by a heart transplant at the hospital. The procedure was performed by a medical team headed by Ashiq Nihmathulla, Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the hospital, according to a press release cited by The Hindu. The hospital authorities and the recipient's family expressed gratitude to the Tiruchi police personnel for their coordination and efforts, ANI reported.
Previous similar incident in August
ANI noted a similar incident in August when the Vande Bharat Express made a stoppage at Ankleshwar Railway Station for the first time to transport a donor heart to Ahmedabad. The donor organ was procured from Jayaben Modi Multi-Specialty Hospital in Ankleshwar, and authorities established a green corridor to ensure rapid transport from the hospital to the railway station. The heart was transplanted into a patient at U N Mehta Hospital, marking the 78th successful transplant there, according to ANI.