Times of India
09 July 2010
By Sruthy Susan Ullas
Bangalore, India

Luck By Chance
In this case, borders were no barriers. And mother tongue did not matter. The donor was from Tamil Nadu, the recipient from Andhra Pradesh and the surgery was done in Karnataka. Narayana Hrudayalaya successfully conducted a heart transplant on 32–year–old N Vamsi Krishna, who walked back to life from the jaws of death. He was suffering from cardiomyopathy.

The case
Vamsi’s had breathlessness and felt his stomach had bulged out. Initially, he was treated for gastritis. However, when he did not show any signs of improvement, a chest X–Ray was taken.

Vamsi suffered from cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart’s muscles fail to function, thus affecting blood circulation and functioning of other organs. It is a progressive disease, relatively common. Sometimes it can be caused by viral attacks, and at times by drug administration, but in most of the cases, the reasons are unknown.

He was under medication for almost five years. However, doctors informed him that heart transplant is the only solution. He registered with the Zonal Co–ordination Committee for Transplantation, Karnataka (ZCCK).

“By May, he could not walk more than five steps. Even while resting he was breathless. Chances of survival were less and even a transplant was risky,” said Dr Bagirath Raghuraman, cardiologist, who was part of the team that conducted the transplant.

On May 15, Vamsi reached the hospital with low–pulse rate and collapsed at the reception. The doctors call this divine intervention. There was a donor available and everything matched.

Donate organs
“When I heard that a donor is ready, I felt bad. I got a life because somebody else lost his. However, I thought this might be my last opportunity. Now, all my relatives have pledged to donate their organs,” said Vamsi. “It is important that this culture grows in Karnataka,” said Dr P V Rao, cardiac surgeon.