20 km in 27 minutes: Live heart transported via green corridor to give new life in Delhi

In an exceptional display of medical coordination and efficiency, a live heart was transported through a green corridor from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport to Fortis Escorts, Okhla in just 27 minutes, covering a distance of 20 km, to give a 59-year-old recipient a new lease of life. 

The recipient had been suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, a severe heart condition where the heart muscles become weak, causing acute heart failure.

The donor heart belonged to a 43-year-old man from Nagpur, who had tragically passed away from a brain stroke. After his family consented to organ donation, the heart was allocated by the National Organ Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and harvested at Kingsway Hospital, Nagpur, on December 9th. 

The heart was transported via air ambulance at 1:12 AM and reached Delhi airport at 3:19 AM, traveling a distance of over 1,067 km. Upon landing, a dedicated green corridor facilitated the heart’s swift transport to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, arriving at 3:57 AM.

The heart transplant was successfully performed by a team of expert surgeons led by Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan, Director – Adult Cardiac Surgery, and Dr. Milind Hote, Director – Adult Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Escorts.

Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan, Director – Adult Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla, New Delhi said, “This transplant was a lifesaving intervention for a patient suffering from end-stage heart failure. We were alerted by NOTTO about the potential donor, and with meticulous coordination between medical teams and authorities, we ensured the seamless transport of the donor heart. The transplant signifies a new beginning for the recipient, and we are deeply grateful to the donor’s family for their selfless act.” 

Dr. Milind Hote, Director – Adult Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Escorts, Okhla Road, New Delhi added, “We express our heartfelt gratitude to the donor’s family for their courage and generosity. Organ donation is a profound gesture that transforms lives. This achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the medical teams, NOTTO, and local authorities, including the traffic police. Their unwavering support ensured the success of this complex and time-critical procedure.” 

The recipient, who had been waiting for a suitable donor for over a decade, has responded positively to the transplant and is on the road to recovery. This case highlights the importance of organ donation and the critical role of advanced medical coordination in saving lives.