38-Year-Old AIIMS Scholar Receives Hand Transplant from 76-Year-Old Donor, Embraces a Second Chance
Delhi: In a landmark surgery spanning 12 hours, surgeons at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, successfully harvested and transplanted five organs from a deceased 76-year-old woman donor, giving new hope to five different recipients. The procedures included a double-hand transplant, a kidney transplant, corneal transplants and lung transplant, reinforcing Amrita Hospital as the first hospital in North India to carry out a double-hand transplant.
Amrita Hospital’s expertise in upper limb transplantation has been steadily increasing with five successful procedures performed on three patients over the past two and a half years at Faridabad. The same team of doctors started the upper limb transplantation programme first time in India in the year 2015 in Kochi, Kerala and now have been steadily advancing the services in the North India which has made them the leading reconstructive surgeons in North India.
The transplants were made possible through the selfless gift of a donor, the wife of an Army Officer, who succumbed to intracranial bleeding (also known as brain hemorrhage. In a remarkable demonstration of the impact of organ donation, her generosity benefited multiple recipients through the donation of her kidneys, liver, corneas, and upper limbs.
Dr. Mohit Sharma, HoD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Amrita Hospital, stated, “This successful multi-organ transplant represents a significant milestone in India’s medical history. Hand transplantation is particularly challenging as it involves multiple tissue types and requires higher levels of immunosuppression due to the skin’s heightened immune response. The success of this procedure demonstrates Amrita Hospital’s capability to handle the most complex surgical challenges. Moreover, the fact that five different recipients have benefited from one donor’s generous gift of life makes this case even more remarkable.”
Twinkle Dogra, a 38-year-old PhD scholar at AIIMS Rishikesh who lost her limbs in a live wire incident, shared her experience “I never imagined that I would have a second lease of life, but this transplant has given me one. After learning about Amrita Hospital, Kochi’s first limb transplant in 2015, I saw a ray of hope. In addition to restoring my hand mobility, the knowledge and commitment of the medical staff at Amrita Hospital have given me fresh hope for the future. From handling early recovery issues to receiving intensive physical and occupational treatment, the doctors and rehabilitation team have helped me at every stage. The support of clinical psychologists has been invaluable in keeping me motivated throughout this journey. As my hand function improves, I feel more independent and optimistic. I am forever grateful to the donor, their family, and the incredible medical team which made this possible.”
The operation brought together four distinct surgical teams and specialists in nephrology, ophthalmology, and critical care. This extensive collaboration highlights Amrita Hospital’s strength in coordinating complex medical procedures requiring multiple expertise.
Even though the donor was 76 years old, comprehensive medical evaluations verified that every organ donated was in perfect shape. Age shouldn’t be a deterrent to organ donation, as demonstrated by the success of this transplant, which may inspire many elderly people to think about making this gift that could change others lives.
Through several research projects, including partnerships with U.S. medical institutes and advancements in transplant technology, the hospital keeps pushing the boundaries of medical science. Among its priorities are the development of local immunosuppressive methods and the use of point-of-care devices for real-time tacrolimus level monitoring.
