Fri Nov 22 01:37:00 UTC 2024: ## Nation’s Youngest Heart Transplant Gives One-Year-Old New Life
**Bengaluru, November 22, 2024** – A one-year-old infant has received a life-saving heart transplant at Narayana Health City in Bengaluru, marking what doctors claim is the nation’s youngest successful heart transplant. The baby, suffering from end-stage heart failure due to Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), underwent the procedure on August 18, 2024.
The infant’s condition had rapidly deteriorated over the previous months, leading to severe symptoms including jaundice, weight loss, and feeding difficulties. A heart transplant was determined to be the only viable option. A compatible donor heart became available within 72 hours from a 2.5-year-old child who died of an irreversible neurological condition.
A multidisciplinary team of doctors, including Dr. Sudesh Prabhu (Senior Consultant of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery), Dr. T Kumaran (Senior Consultant of Cardiac Surgery and Transplant), and Dr. Sreedhar Joshi (Senior Consultant of Anaesthesiology), successfully performed the complex surgery. The baby spent two months recovering at the hospital before being discharged in stable condition, showing significant improvement in activity levels, appetite, and weight.
Dr. Shashiraj, Clinical Lead for Paediatric Heart Failure and Transplant at Narayana Health City, highlighted the rarity of donor hearts for infants and the challenges posed by congenital heart disease. He emphasized the critical nature of the baby’s condition and the importance of teamwork in achieving a successful outcome. The doctors hope this case will raise awareness about pediatric heart failure and the vital role of organ donation.
First Piper 