Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai has achieved a significant milestone by successfully carrying out a total of 535 solid organ transplants. Among these, there were 327 kidney transplants, 200 liver transplants, and eight heart transplants. The hospital's exceptional expertise and dedication in the field of organ transplantation have positively impacted numerous lives, providing hope and renewed vitality to patients in need. The hospital initiated its transplant program in 2017.

Apollo Hospital's solid organ transplant program encompasses heart, lung, kidney, and liver transplants. The hospital boasts a 99.9 percent success rate for kidney transplants and over 90 percent for liver transplants. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital diligently followed stringent infection control protocols, ensuring the continuation of life-saving transplants.

Santosh Marathe, Regional CEO - Western Region at Apollo Hospitals, expressed his thoughts on this remarkable achievement, stating-

“Apollo’s transplant program is a beacon of hope with each patient whose life has been saved. The success of a transplantation program requires the effort of multiple people. Nearly 35 to 40 people work tirelessly on this project. Besides the physicians and the transplant surgeons, it calls for the expertise and dedication of nephrologists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatric surgeons, anesthetists, intensivists, critical care specialists, radiologists, physicians, pulmonologists, infectious disease consultants, immunologists, pathologists, transplant coordinators, trained ICU ward nurses, and medical counselors.”

Marathe added that the success of Apollo's transplant program is also reliant on the robust support provided by the Zonal Transplant Coordination Center in Maharashtra, blood banks, and even the traffic police, who help ensure the smooth transportation of cadavers through green corridors.

He further informed that Apollo's transplant team is currently performing liver transplants even at its Ahmedabad center, and the hospital's specialist doctors will soon commence heart transplants in Ahmedabad as well.

Dr. Sanjeev Jadhav, Consultant in CVTS (Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery) and Heart & Lung Transplant Surgery at Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai, expressed-

“Performing heart transplants is a delicate medical procedure that demands precision, expertise, and compassion. It provides new hope and a new beginning to heart failure patients.”

Dr. Prof Darius Mirza, the Lead Consultant in the Liver and HPB (Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary) Program at Apollo Hospitals Western Region, stated-

“Organ transplantation is life-saving for patients with advanced organ disease, and substantially improves their quality of life. Apollo has completed 200 liver transplants, of which 65 have been for children.”

Dr. Amol Kumar Patil, Senior Consultant in Urology, Uro-Oncology, Kidney Transplant, and Robotic Surgery at Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai, expressed-

“Apollo’s kidney transplant program has been transforming the lives of patients with renal failure. The hospital has completed 300+ kidney transplants, providing our patients a new lease of life.”

In India, where there is a high demand for organ donations, organ transplants, especially cadaver organ transplants, play a crucial role. Each year, more than 500,000 people in India require an organ transplant, including 40,000 individuals in need of a liver transplant and approximately 200,000 individuals in need of a kidney transplant. However, only around five percent of this demand is met due to organ shortage and limited access to transplantation services, leading to thousands of lives lost while waiting for life-saving transplants.

Apollo Hospitals took the initiative to initiate organ transplant surgeries, starting with kidney transplants in 1984. Since then, Apollo has been at the forefront of delivering quality outcomes in the field of organ transplantation, from developing the first organ transplant registry in India to performing groundbreaking surgeries in this domain.

Organ Donation in India

Organ donation plays a crucial role in facilitating life-saving transplants, offering individuals a precious second chance at life. Vital organs like the heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys, and lungs can be successfully transplanted to individuals whose own organs have stopped working. This allows numerous recipients to regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. Additionally, for those in need of a cornea or tissue transplant, it can mean the restoration of sight or the recovery of mobility, freeing them from pain and limitations.

According to the Health Resources & Services Administration, a single person's donation has the potential to make a positive impact on more than 80 individuals. Through deceased organ donation alone, it is possible to save the lives of eight individuals and improve the quality of life for an additional 75 people.

In light of this, it is essential for us to embrace generosity and extend a helping hand to one another. Those on the organ transplant waiting lists are not just individuals in need, but they are also parents, siblings, and loved ones who are crucial to their families. It is our responsibility to ensure that no one is denied the opportunity for a healthier and fuller life through organ donation.

Resource - https://www.healthcareradius.in/organ-donation/apollo-hospital-navi-mumbai-completes-535-solid-organ-transplants