Pioneer Facility in Pune for Heart Transplants
Twenty million people worldwide suffer from heart failure, of which India witnesses two million new cases every year with at least a third of them requiring a heart transplant to survive. A heart transplant is performed when end-stage heart failure or heart injury can’t be treated by any other medical or surgical means. It’s reserved for those individuals with a high risk of dying from heart disease within one or two years.
Adding to its comprehensive list of organ transplants, Ruby Hall Clinic was the first hospital in Pune to have received a license to undertake this procedure. The heart transplant program here has the depth and experience to successfully treat those patients for whom transplant is the answer, as well as the many patients for whom it is not. Our heart transplant team is experienced in evaluating high-risk patients and understands what transplantation can provide.
Based on the evaluation results, the transplant team decides whether or not a heart transplant is appropriate as the best therapeutic option.
The decision to proceed with a heart transplant represents a lifelong commitment to self-care and medical follow-up, so the ultimate decision rests with the patients. Only you can evaluate your quality of life and determine whether or not a heart transplant is worth pursuing.
If you or your loved ones suffer from one of the following conditions, a cardiac transplant might be the option for you. Heart failure may occur due to:
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Valvular disease
- Cardiorenal syndrome
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Other life-threatening cardiac problems
Our Patients Speak of their Experience
I knew I was in good hands
“Being diagnosed with heart failure at the age of 49 years came as a shock to me and my family. Life took a dramatic turn for the worse when we realised that I needed a heart transplant to survive. Luckily, the team at Ruby Hall Clinic put me and my family at ease. Right from the moment I was admitted, their care was more than clinical. They were prepared for the journey a transplant patient was on and I’m grateful to them for this renewed lease of life.”
– Nikita Deokar
Myth Vs Facts
Myth: My surgery will be long and painful
Fact: Generally, most patients do not report a lot of pain after a heart transplant surgery. The incision naturally does cause some kind of discomfort when you cough. However, pain medication and specific instruction would ease you out.
Myth: I will be unable to resume my daily activities or even work after the transplant
Fact: The appropriate time for you to return to work and resume your daily lifestyle will depend on at least two factors: how you are feeling after surgery, and what type of work you will be doing. As soon as your incision is healed and you are feeling well, you can discuss with your transplant cardiologist when to return to work. Some patients are able to return to work relatively quickly. Generally, most recipients can return to work within six months following surgery.
Myth: There’s a high possibility of my body rejecting the new heart
Fact: Some patients may experience rejection after heart transplantation. Because rejection typically occurs without symptoms, it is often diagnosed during a scheduled biopsy, which is why it will be important to comply with your schedule of follow-up visits after your transplant surgery. If rejection is detected, it may require adjustment of medications or other therapies. When detected early, most rejection episodes can be resolved successfully.
Panel of Doctors
At Ruby Hall Clinic, our service is built around a dedicated and highly experienced team led by Dr. Jagdish Hiremath. The team is drawn from a wide range of experts, including cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, respiratory physicians, and anesthetists, as well as transplant coordinators, nurses, physiotherapists, and social workers.
Our Team
Mentor
Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan.
Eminent Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon
| Name | OPD Timings |
| Dr. J. S. Hiremath (Director of Heart Transplant Program, Chief Cardiologist) |
Mon to Fri 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Dr. C. N. Makhale (Chief Cardiologist) |
Mon to Fri 11 AM – 4 PM & Sat 11 AM – 1 PM |
| Dr. Kaushik Sheth (Cardiologist) |
Mon to Fri 10 AM – 1 PM |
| Dr. Swapnil Karne (Heart Transplant Surgeon) |
Mon, Wed, Fri 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM |
| Dr. Ashish Khanijo (Heart Transplant Surgeon) |
Mon to Fri 3 PM – 5 PM |
| Dr. Sameer Bhate (Heart Transplant Surgeon) |
Fri 2 PM – 4 PM |
| Dr. Bikash Sahu (Director, Cardiac Anaesthesia and Cardiac Recovery) |
All Days |
| Dr. Kaustubh Chavan (Cardiac Anaesthetist) |
All Days |
| Dr. Rahul Bhalke (Cardiac Anaesthetist) |
All Days |
| Dr. Kalpesh Sukhwani (Infectious Disease Specialist) |
Mon to Sat 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Dr. Abhijit Lodha (Physician) |
Mon to Sat 9 AM – 1 PM, 4 PM – 8 PM |
