AIIMS all set to begin lung transplants by year end

NEW DELHI: After years of speculation, the All India Institute of Medical Science is finally set to start lung transplant operations by the year end. The only obstacle in its path is fulfilment of minor infrastructure requirements, including lung preserver solution.

Talking to Millennium Post, Dr Sandeep Seth, Professor and head of Department of Cardiology at AIIMS, said the institute is gearing up with a team of surgeons ready for lung transplant.

“We are waiting for some infrastructural requirements to be fulfilled. As soon as we have things in place, which may happen any day, we will perform the first lung transplant,” he said.

In July 2017, the PGIMER, Chandigarh, had successfully conducted its first lung transplant. However, since then, no such operation has taken place.

Dr Seth added that as such, there is no special facility for lung transplant in public hospitals anywhere north India, while many hospitals in south India do. Tamil Nadu has the highest lung transplant across the country to perform the lung transplant.

AIIMS had applied the license for lung transplantation around five years ago, but no operation has been done so far.

A major reason for this is the complexity of the implant, an AIIMS official said, adding that teams from thoracic surgery, pulmonary medicine and Cardiology department have come together to start the lung transplants at the country's premier institute.

Moreover, doctors are visiting and learning the procedure from south India's hospitals, including AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Gularia.

“The cost of lung transplant is three times higher than that of heart transplant,” said Dr Seth.

Lung transplantation is generally performed when people suffering from end-stage lung diseases fail to get relief from any other medical treatment.

“ICU employees are also being trained for better care of patients for lung transplantation. Waiting list of patients is also being prepare to start transplant,” the official stated.

Diseases such as lung infection, asthma, tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect a considerable number of people each year.

In Tamil Nadu, 30 lung transplants have been made this year. Since 2010, 257 patients have had lung transplants in the state.