In a groundbreaking achievement, Apollo Hospitals in Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the state health authority, Jeeva Sarthakathe (JSK), successfully transported a donated human heart through the city’s Metro rail network. The heart was harvested from a donor at a private hospital in Yeshwanthpur and needed to be transported quickly to Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, for a critical heart transplant surgery.
To avoid Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion, the heart was shifted using the Metro rail network from Goraguntepalya Metro Station to Mantri Square Metro Station, taking just 18 minutes to complete the journey. This feat was made possible through seamless coordination between BMRCL, the city police, and the hospital’s transplant team, ensuring that the heart was moved within the medically critical “golden window.”
The recipient of the heart transplant was a 33-year-old doctor from Assam who had been suffering from heart failure for a long time. He had been waiting for a heart transplant since 2023 but was unable to find a suitable donor. Thanks to the efforts of JSK and the awareness of organ donation, the doctor was finally able to receive a new heart and a second chance at life.
The transplant surgery was successfully completed by a team of experts from Apollo Hospitals, and the patient is now recovering. The hospital’s senior cardiac surgeon praised the cooperation extended by BMRCL and JSK, stating that every minute is precious when it comes to organ transplants, and their efforts ensured that the heart reached safely and quickly, saving a patient’s life.
This initiative sets a precedent for future organ transport protocols in urban India and marks another milestone in Bengaluru’s efforts towards strengthening its green corridor and rapid organ transport system. The hospital’s spokesperson expressed gratitude to the donor family, BMRCL, and JSK for their roles in making the mission successful, highlighting the importance of seamless coordination and teamwork in saving lives.