Arunachal Pradesh’s first-ever successful Heart and Lung transplant performed by Fortis Malar team

BANGALORE: A team of senior doctors from Fortis Malar Hospital successfully conducted a heart and lung transplant on a 23-year-old woman from Roing in Arunachal Pradesh. The patient, named Mumni Tayeng, was diagnosed with Eisenmenger’s syndrome.

She happens to be the first person from Arunachal Pradesh to receive heart and lung transplant. This clinical feat was achieved by an enterprising team of expert doctors led by Dr. K R Balakrishnan, Director, Cardiac Sciences and Dr. Suresh Rao KG, Head of Department, Critical Care & Cardiac Anaesthesia, Fortis Malar Hospital.

Ms. Mumni Tayeng had complaints of breathlessness and was often admitted for treatment. As complications kept prolonging, her condition did not improve. She had repeated episodes of breathlessness. With severe exhaustion and fatigue, her physical activities got restricted. Her skin was blue when she was brought to Fortis Malar Hospital.

After close examination, it was diagnosed that she is suffering from Eisenmenger’s syndrome – a heart defect that causes a hole to develop between two chambers of the heart which thereby causes abnormal circulation of blood in heart and lungs. A heart and lung transplant was strongly recommended by the team of doctors post in-depth medical diagnosis.

Barring all odds and prevailing challenges, Mumni Tayeng became the first heart and lung transplant recipient in Arunachal Pradesh. The transplant surgery was also partially funded by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh under Chief Minister’s Assistance Scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. K R Balakrishnan mentioned “A heart-lung transplant is a complex procedure which carries a high-risk element in terms of execution and post-operative treatment. Amidst the worsening complications, we had to work towards getting it right in terms of the transplantation as well as helping Mumni cope with steady recovery post the procedure. We appreciate the bold spirit and courage of Mumni who has endured this procedure and co-operated with us during the procedure. Eventually, both the transplanted organs responded very well with great efficiency and effectiveness.”

Expressing delight over the success of this feat, the mother of the patient said, “We are extremely thankful to Dr. K R Balakrishnan and his team at Fortis Malar for their hard work and dedication during the surgery.  We express our sincere thanks to the donor’s family for helping us at this crucial moment of my daughter’s life. I hope our story would create more awareness and instill confidence in the hearts of many such patients to consider transplant surgeries in the future. I want my daughter to complete her studies and become a teacher to inspire as well as enlighten many lives.”