Arunachal girl becomes state’s first to get heart, lung transplant

Itanagar: A team of senior doctors from Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai has successfully conducted a heart and lung transplant on a 23-year-old girl from Arunachal Pradesh.

Mumni Tayeng, a resident of Roing in the state’s Lower Dibang Valley district, was diagnosed with Eisenmenger’s syndrome.

“She 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,” Dr K R Balakrishnan, director, cardiac sciences of Fortis Malar told reporters during a briefing here on Saturday.

Dr Balakrishnan said with severe exhaustion and fatigue, Mumni’s 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, said Dr Balakrishnan.

Barring all odds and prevailing challenges, Mumni opted for the transplant, which was also partially funded by the government of Arunachal Pradesh under the Chief Minister’s Assistance Scheme.

Dr Balakrishnan said, “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 setting 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, he said.

With the surgery being successful, Mumni became the first person from Arunachal Pradesh to receive a heart and lung transplant.

This clinical feat was achieved by an enterprising team of expert doctors led by Dr Balakrishnan and Dr Suresh Rao KG, head of department, critical care and cardiac anaesthesia, Fortis Malar Hospital.

Expressing delight over the success of the surgery, Mumni’s mother said, “I am extremely thankful to Dr Balakrishnan and his team at Fortis Malar for their hard work and dedication during the surgery.”

“We also express our sincere thanks to the donor’s family for helping us at this crucial moment of my daughter’s life,” she said while hoping this 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,” she further said.