Mahesh Pandav, 38, of Aurangabad, recently had a major heart transplant at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, which was a first for the medical facility. After a failed attempt in 1968, this surgery on July 12 was only the second heart transplant in the hospital’s 56-year history. The initial outcome of Mahesh’s surgery, carried out by a group under the direction of Dr. Prafulla Kumar Sen, was encouraging and filled with promise.
It looked like a successful surgery. With a 60% pumping capacity, Mahesh was released from the hospital on August 1st, indicating a positive recovery. His family was filled with hope and relief, especially his wife Swati, who thought that their arduous and protracted trip was finally coming to an end.
But sadly, this hope was not to last long. Mahesh experienced severe breathing difficulties and a high fever on the evening of August 20. When Swati called the physicians at KEM Hospital, they suggested that she send Mahesh to a nearby hospital in Sambhajinagar in case his condition would not get better by the following morning. Mahesh’s symptoms had become much worse by morning; he was having difficulty breathing and was unable to pass urine. He was taken to Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital by his family in a hurry, and given oxygen assistance there.
Mahesh’s condition progressively deteriorated despite the efforts of local doctors and constant connection with the KEM Hospital. Despite being placed on a ventilator, his health did not improve. Regretfully, on August 22, only 41 days after his ground-breaking transplant, Mahesh passed away from a serious illness.
Mahesh passed away too soon from heart failure brought on by a serious illness. He had been taking immunosuppressive medications, which transplant recipients need to take in order to avoid organ rejection. Although these drugs are essential for the new organ to survive, they also weaken the immune system, making patients more vulnerable to infections. This weakness proved to be fatal in Mahesh’s situation.
Devastated by her husband’s passing, Swati thought back on their experience with much sorrow. She highlighted the emotional strain of the situation by recalling Mahesh’s assurances and his hope for the future. The medical staff at KEM Hospital, who dedicated a great deal of time and knowledge to Mahesh’s care, shares the family’s sadness. His story demonstrates the continued difficulties in post-transplant care, where controlling the risk of infection is still a significant obstacle.
SOURCE :
INDIAN EXPRESS
