Apollo Hospitals has launched a dedicated Heart & Lung Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Unit at its Seshadripuram facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This marks a significant milestone in the state’s transplant landscape, enhancing access to complex cardiothoracic care for patients across Karnataka and neighboring regions. The new unit is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including transplant-ready ICUs, specialized OTs, advanced monitoring systems, ECMO and MCS support, and dedicated rehabilitation pathways.
The launch was attended by Dr. J Ravishankar IAS, Managing Director of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), who highlighted the importance of urban mobility in supporting time-sensitive emergency care. He noted that Namma Metro played a vital role in the timely transport of a donor heart, demonstrating how public infrastructure can directly support life-saving healthcare.
The new unit will offer patients a range of advanced therapies, including heart, lung, and combined heart-lung transplantation, as well as temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support. The programme is clinically integrated and multidisciplinary, with a team of experts working together to deliver seamless care for end-stage heart and lung disease.
Dr. Kumud Kumar Dhital, Programme and Surgical Director, noted that the team has built a robust transplant service over the past two years and is now poised to deliver consistently safe and successful outcomes. Dr. Srinivas Rajagopala, Lead Lung Failure and Transplant Pulmonologist, emphasized the importance of continuity in lung care, highlighting the need for meticulous pre- and post-transplant care.
The launch event also featured patient stories, with recipients of Apollo’s transplant services sharing emotional testimonies and thanking donor families and medical teams for giving them a second chance at life. One patient, who received a heart transplant thanks to the timely transport of a donor heart via Namma Metro, praised the “right infrastructure and the right medical expertise” that came together to save his life.
The new unit is expected to significantly enhance Karnataka’s transplant capabilities, meeting the rising demand for advanced cardiac and respiratory interventions. With Karnataka emerging as one of India’s most active contributors to the organ donation pool, the Apollo programme aims to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients and families across the region.