BELAGAVI
Giving a fresh lease of life to a Goan youth, doctors at the KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore hospital here have successfully carried out the first heart transplant on a patient from Goa.
Noted Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon Dr Richard Saldanha, who also hails from Goa, and his team carried out the transplant on Shivam Dilip Signapurkar (25) from Margao saving his life.
The patient has fully recovered and was discharged on Wednesday.
Shivam was diagnosed with chronic terminal heart failure a little over four years. The hospital had registered with Jeevsarthakathe, Organ Transplant Authority of Karnataka for a heart transplant in 2018.
“Since no matching/suitable donors were available, he was medically maintained, closely supervised and was on a continuous treatment,” Dr Saldanha, who performed the heart transplant, told The Goan.
“Recently, a suitable blood group donor was declared brain dead and the family consented to the organ donation. The transplant was carried out successfully, the postoperative recovery was excellent and he has been discharged with a new heart. He is walking, climbing stairs and is cheerful. This is the first heart transplant on a patient from Goa,” Dr Saldanha added.
“Shivam was found fit from the third day itself and started enjoying Goan food which his relatives would bring him," said Dr Abhishek Prabhu, a team member.
Received a new life: Patient
BELAGAVI:
Shivam Dilip Signapurkar, the first heart transplant patient from Goa, said he had received a new life due to a miracle from God through the KLES team of doctors.
“God is great and He has worked a miracle through the doctors. I was assured by Dr Saldanha that he would somehow save my life. I have received a new life and can live normally now," Shivam, who was discharged on Wednesday, told The Goan.
Shivam has lost his father, and his mother, Lalita, had tears of joy in her eyes as she expressed deep gratitude to Dr Saldanha and the KLES team.
"With limited resources, we did not know where to go. However, Dr Saldanha gave us full assurance and constantly told us not to worry,” said Lalita.
‘Transplant with aid of Goa govt’
BELAGAVI:
Hailing the success of the heart transplant at KLES Hospital, Medical Director Dr M V Jali said the transplant had been carried out under financial assistance from the Goa government, the Centre and other charitable sources.
"We are happy that a youth has now got a new lease of life," Dr Jali said.
KLE Society Chairman and former MP Dr Prabhakar Kore, who visited the patient and congratulated him, said he was proud of Dr Saldanaha and team who have performed three successful heart transplants at the hospital so far.
“A heart transplant would cost Rs 25 lakh in metros and elsewhere, but KLES Hospital, which is working on charitable principles, has carried out the surgery at around Rs 10 lakh," Dr Kore said.
“We appeal to Goans to take benefit of the world-class health infrastructure offered at the KLES hospital.”
