Mumbai Doctors Achieve Life-Saving Heart Transplant in Just 17 Minutes via Green Corridor

Mumbai once again witnessed a powerful example of medical excellence and human compassion as doctors successfully transported a donor heart in just 17 minutes through a perfectly coordinated green corridor. The life-saving operation was carried out between Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Thane and Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, highlighting how teamwork and swift decision-making can save precious lives.

A Family’s Courage Turns Loss Into Life

The donor was a 38-year-old woman who was declared brain-dead following a hypertensive cranial bleed. After a mandatory confirmation by a panel of medical experts, her family made the brave and selfless decision to donate her organs. In a moment of profound grief, their choice became a source of hope for patients waiting desperately for transplants.

Medical professionals involved in the process described the family’s decision as an extraordinary act of humanity, one that has the potential to save multiple lives.

Seamless Coordination Enables Record-Time Transfer

Once the organ donation was confirmed, a specialised transplant retrieval team was immediately activated. With close coordination between the two hospitals, the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), and Mumbai’s Traffic Police, a green corridor was established to ensure uninterrupted passage.

The donor heart was transported from Mahaveer Jain Hospital in Thane to Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital in Powai in just 17 minutes—a remarkable feat considering Mumbai’s dense traffic conditions. Roads were cleared in advance, traffic signals were managed in real time, and the ambulance was given a clear route throughout the journey.

Hospital officials credited meticulous planning and flawless execution for achieving the rapid transfer, which is crucial in heart transplant procedures where every minute counts.

Heart Allocated to Critically Ill Patient

As per ZTCC allocation guidelines, the donor heart was assigned to a 60-year-old man suffering from end-stage heart failure. The patient had been on the transplant waiting list and was in urgent need of a new heart to survive. The transplant surgery is currently underway, and doctors remain cautiously optimistic about the outcome.

Doctors Highlight India’s Organ Donation Gap

Speaking about the achievement, Dr. Sameer Kulkarni, CEO of Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital, stressed the urgent need to improve organ donation rates in India. He pointed out that while medical capabilities have advanced significantly, organ availability remains a major challenge.

“India currently has over 80,000 patients waiting for organ transplants, but our organ donation rate is still below one donor per million population. Although more than 18,000 organ transplants were performed in 2024—the highest ever—the gap between demand and availability continues to widen,” Dr. Kulkarni said.

‘One Donor Can Save Eight Lives’

Emphasising the life-changing impact of organ donation, Dr. Kulkarni noted that a single donor has the potential to save up to eight lives. He expressed deep gratitude to the donor’s family for their courage and generosity during an emotionally devastating time.

He also acknowledged the crucial role played by the ZTCC and the Traffic Police, stating that such time-sensitive medical successes are impossible without their unwavering support and coordination.

A Call for Greater Awareness

Medical experts involved in the transplant urged citizens to pledge organ donation and discuss their wishes with family members. Increased awareness and public participation, they said, could give thousands of patients across the country a second chance at life.

This successful green corridor operation stands as a reminder that when compassion, coordination, and commitment come together, miracles can happen—even in the busiest of cities.