India’s First Adult Lung Transplant Using Pediatric Donor Lungs Successfully Performed at Gleneagles Hospital Chennai
Chennai, June 25, 2026: A remarkable milestone in Indian transplant medicine! Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, part of the Fortis Healthcare Network, has successfully performed India’s first adult lung transplant using lungs from a pediatric donor, giving a new lease of life to a 39-year-old woman from West Bengal who was battling advanced Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (RA-ILD).
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| (4th from Right) Dr. Govini Balasubramani, Director – Heart & Lung Transplant with Patient and Medical Team |
For six years, the patient struggled with progressive lung damage caused by RA-ILD, a severe condition linked to rheumatoid arthritis. Despite ongoing treatment, her breathing capacity continued to decline, and her oxygen requirement increased significantly, impacting even the simplest daily activities.
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The procedure was led by Dr. Govini Balasubramani, Director, Heart & Lung Transplant, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, supported by Dr. Sindhura Koganti, Senior Consultant - Pulmonology, Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Dr. Vimi Varghese, Senior Consultant - Pulmonology, Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, and Dr. Sushmita Roychowdhury, Senior Consultant - Pulmonology.
Under the leadership of Dr. Govini Balasubramani, Director – Heart & Lung Transplant, along with a multidisciplinary team of pulmonologists and transplant specialists, the patient was evaluated for a lung transplant. However, finding a suitable donor proved extremely challenging due to her physical profile and the advanced stage of her disease.
A breakthrough came when a pediatric brain-dead donor's lungs became available through government authorities following a tragic road accident. After extensive evaluation, careful planning, and meticulous surgical preparation, the transplant team determined that the donor lungs could be successfully adapted for the adult recipient despite significant size and anatomical differences.
The highly complex surgery was completed successfully without the use of artificial pump support, overcoming significant challenges in connecting the donor’s vascular and airway structures to the recipient.
The outcome has been extraordinary. The patient was extubated on the very first postoperative day, began walking independently without oxygen support by the third day, and was discharged just 12 days after surgery. Today, she is breathing normally and has regained her independence, marking a dramatic improvement in her quality of life.
Speaking about the achievement, Dr. Govini Balasubramani emphasized that the case demonstrates the life-changing impact of organ donation and the growing possibilities of advanced transplant care in India. Hospital leadership also highlighted how innovative approaches in transplantation can expand donor utilization and provide hope to more patients awaiting life-saving organs.
This landmark success not only represents a historic first for India but also opens new possibilities for reducing transplant wait times and saving more lives through expanded donor matching strategies.
A salute to the dedicated medical team, the courageous patient, and the donor family whose selfless gift made this life-saving miracle possible.
#GleneaglesHospitalChennai #LungTransplant
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