Heart Donation Gives 48-Year-Old Woman a New Lease of Life
Heart Donation Gives 48-Year-Old Woman a New Lease of Life
Green Corridor Enables Life-Saving Heart Transplant from Artemis Hospital to Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
Gurugram, 3 rd December 2025: A 48-year-old woman suffering from end-stage heart failure was given a new lease of life after a successful heart transplant at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurugram. The patient was battling Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCMP) a condition in which the heart muscles weaken and enlarge, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. When she arrived at Fortis, her heart function had dropped to just 15%, and she had already undergone multiple hospital admissions.
A 47-year-old woman, admitted to Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, suffered a severe stroke and was declared brain dead. In a remarkable act of generosity, her family consented to donate her organs. A dedicated green corridor was activated between the two hospitals, enabling the donor heart to reach FMRI in just 17 minutes.
The heart transplant surgery began at 3:00 am and lasted approximately 2.5 hours. At 5:30 am, once the arterial clamp was removed, the transplanted heart started beating on its own. By 8:00 am, the patient was shifted to the ICU, and she was extubated the following day. She is currently stable, alert, sitting up, interacting with her family, and walking with support.
Dr. Udgeath Dhir, Principal Director- Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, who led the transplant, said: “The patient was in a very critical stage when she came to us, her heart was functioning at only around 15%, which makes survival extremely challenging. Once the donor heart arrived, the transplant went smoothly, and the new heart started beating on its own soon after implantation, which is an encouraging clinical sign. Matching the donor and recipient’s age and physical profile helped support her recovery. Today, she is stable, interacting with her family and recovering better than expected. This case shows how organ donation and timely medical intervention can truly rewrite the future of a patient’s life.”
Mr. Yash Rawat, Facility Director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said: “This heart transplant is a testament to what coordinated medical efforts and the generosity of a donor family can achieve. We are deeply grateful to the donor’s family for their invaluable gift of life. At Fortis, we remain committed to advancing cardiac care and working with government bodies and NGOs to promote awareness on organ donation. We believe that every person awaiting a transplant deserves a fair chance at life.”
Medical literature and global transplant registries indicate that matching donor and recipient by sex and body size may improve transplant outcomes. Studies have shown that certain sex-mismatched transplants, especially female donor hearts to male recipients, may carry slightly higher risk of rejection due to anatomical and physiological differences.
In contrast, female-to-female combinations often provide better size matching and metabolic compatibility, which may support a smoother post-operative course and improved recovery profiles. However, experts emphasise that each case is evaluated individually, based on urgency, medical suitability, and donor availability
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