Doctors at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital, Bengaluru conduct state’s first simultaneous double lung transplant and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). In the past most people with coronary heart disease (heart blocks) weren’t considered candidates for a lung Transplantation. These complex surgeries were hitherto undertaken only by expert teams at highly equipped medical facilities abroad. It is an extremely critical procedure to combine lung transplantation with coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) as the risks involved are numerous.

Mr Ishaq Abdel Hakim Ahmad Sharawi, a 61 year old gentleman from Jordan, was diagnosed with advanced interstitial lung disease with both lungs permanently fibrosed and damaged. He was completely wheelchair bound and dependent on 10 liters of oxygen per minute 24/7. He was evaluated for lung Transplantation but tests showed 2 major blocks in his heart blood vessels. Since he was deteriorating fast the team led by eminent heart and lung transplant surgeon, Dr Sandeep Attawar decided to undertake combined lung transplant with heart bypass surgery. He was medically optimized by a team consisting of heart failure cardiologists Dr Ravi kumar, Dr Arul Narayan and Transplant Pulmonologists Dr Vijil Rahulan, Dr Apar Jindal and Dr Sandeepa HS. Preoperative cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and dietary optimization was done to prepare him for this complex and long surgery.

Luckily, a matching Donor became available on 20 February at Sparsh hospital. Lung transplant Retrieval team led by cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Bhaskar B.V was sent to Sparsh hospital and the organ was transported to BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital in record time of 20 minutes with the help of a green corridor set up by traffic police.

The lung transplant surgery was done with the help of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine. After the Transplant was completed, a vein graft was harvested from the patient’s leg and a coronary artery bypass surgery was done to bypass the 2 heart blocks he had. The entire surgery lasted five and a half hours. A team of cardiothoracic and vascular (CTVS) surgeons including Dr Govini Balasubramani, Dr Bhasakar B V and Dr Madhusudana assisted Dr Attawar in this complex surgery. Anesthesia and Intensive care was provided by renowned cardiac anesthetist Dr Prabhat Dutta, supported by Dr Anoop Mohandas and Dr ShivaPrakash.

The patient is recovering well. He was taken of the ventilator after 24 hours and mobilized in the second day post-surgery.  

The heart lung transplant team led by Dr Sandeep Attawar has the best record of experience in lung Transplantation in India with 70 Lung transplants done since April 2017. They have also completed 59 heart transplants making them leaders in heart and lung transplantation in the country. This includes 6 successful lung transplants at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital in Bangalore.  A third center for transplantation has also recently started in Global Hospitals Mumbai to cater to increasing transplantation needs in India. 

This is the team’s 3rd combined lung Transplant and CABG, but the first done in Karnataka. The team is also credited with giving second Life to Mr Raghuveer, the first Kannadiga to receive combined heart and double lung transplant back in November 2018.