Visakhapatnam, 19th November 2025: In a landmark achievement, DR L VIJAY & team at CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam successfully performed a lifesaving Heart transplant on Mr. D. Chandra Sekher Patro (54 years, Male), providing him with a renewed chance at life. A resident of Visakhapatnam, Mr. Patro belongs to a joint family and is a businessman. The donor heart was swiftly transported from a hospital in Srikakulam through a meticulously facilitated green corridor created by the Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam district police, ensuring minimal ischemic time and enabling a seamless transplant procedure. We are grateful to the Police and Transport police department for making this organ journey fast and seamless.

 

As the healthcare hub of eastern India, Visakhapatnam has been steadily emerging as a destination for advanced treatments. This successful transplant marks a major milestone for the region and opens new doors to the cardiac patients across Andhra Pradesh as well as neighbouring states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and parts of the Northeast, who earlier had to travel to major metropolitan cities for such complex procedures.

 

Mr. Patro, a known case of TCMP (Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy) with recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia, had previously undergone AICD implantation at CARE Hospitals. Following this he was enlisted into Jeevandam for Cardiac Transplant as the final treatment for his medical condition.

 

On 26th October 2025, a matching donor heart became available at Srikakulam via Jeevadan. With an expedited and coordinated efforts of in house hospital teams and police authorities, the organ was transported across districts in record time. The transplant was performed by CARE Hospitals’ in-house Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery (CTVS) team, led by Dr. L. Vijay, with expert support from Dr C V Rao, Senior Interventional Cardiologist and Clinical Director – Cardiology, Dr Venu Gopal, Senior Nephrologist and HOD – Nephrology, and specialists from the Cardiac Anesthesiology department, all working in seamless coordination.

 

Following a meticulously executed surgery and comprehensive post-operative care, Mr. Patro made a steady recovery and was discharged on 6th November 2025 in stable condition.

 

At his first follow up our patient is walking freely without any distress. His cardiac function and blood parameters are within normal range.

 

Dr. L. Vijay, Clinical Director and Lead Consultant – Cardiac Surgery, CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam, who led the transplant team, stated, “Heart transplantation is one of the most complex and delicate procedures in modern medicine. It demands precision, rapid coordination, and advanced expertise across multiple departments. Safely retrieving the donor heart, preserving it, transporting it across districts, and re-implanting it in the recipient requires seamless teamwork. After more than five years, we are proud to have successfully completed a cardiac transplant in Vizag, showcasing the strength of our multidisciplinary team and our commitment to saving lives.”

 

“Having highly experienced surgeons, Cardiac anaesthetists, specially trained supporting staff, and state-of-the-art medical facilities at CARE Hospitals gave us the confidence to take up this challenging case and complete it successfully,” Dr Vijay added.

 

 

Dr K Ram Babu, Chief Co-ordinator - Jeevandhan, Andhra Pradesh, noted, “This successful heart transplant is a result of excellent coordination between the retrieval hospital, transplant center, police authorities, and the Jeevandan team. Such efficient teamwork ensures that organs reach recipients within the golden time. We appreciate the commitment shown by CARE Hospitals and the police departments in making this life-saving mission possible.”

 

Shri K. Praveen Kumar, Additional DCP (Traffic), Visakhapatnam, said, “Our immediate priority was to ensure an uninterrupted route for the organ transport vehicle. The green corridor was executed swiftly and precisely across key junctions, allowing the heart to reach CARE Hospitals without delay. We are proud to support such critical medical emergencies that save lives.”

 

Mr. Sukhesh Reddy, Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam, said, “This successful heart transplant reinforces Visakhapatnam’s position as the healthcare hub of eastern India. It reflects our growing capability to deliver advanced, high-intensity care right here in the region. This breakthrough will benefit countless patients across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states, who no longer need to depend on metro cities for complex cardiac procedures.”

 

CARE Hospitals, Visakhapatnam continues to solidify its position as a leading center for advanced cardiac care, offering cutting-edge treatment options, multidisciplinary expertise, and comprehensive support for end-stage heart failure patients.