Cops’ green corridor helps patient get heart on time

A living donor heart was transported in seven minutes from Secunderabad to Nampally, a journey that takes about 45 minutes; thanks to the green channel provided by the traffic police.

The heart was harvested from the body of a braindead patient, Manjushri, 51, from Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad and donated to Ms M. Adilakshmi, 47, Care Hospital, Nampally, on Thursday.

Additional commissioner of police (traffic), Mr Anil Kumar said, “The distance between Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad, and Care Hospital, Nampally, is 8 km. The medical team carrying the heart left at 12.46 pm from Yashoda and reached Care at 12.53 pm.”

Speaking to this newspaper, Ms M. Srilekha, daughter of Ms Adilakshmi, said, “The operation was successful. My mother was suffering from a heart problem for 20 years. She managed with tablets for 10 years. She has been operated many times. During the last five months, my mother’s health deteriorated rapidly.”

Dr B.K.S. Sastry, cardiologist from Care Hospital, said, “Once the heart is taken out of the donor, time is crucial and every minute counts. This time is called cold ischemic time. With each passing minute the success of operation decreases. Transportation of the heart in seven minutes is a remarkable achievement.”

The efforts of the traffic police in the transportation of a live organ was greatly applauded by family members and netizens on social media.