Doctors at Gleneagles Global Health City, a leading tertiary care
hospital in Chennai, successfully performed a life-changing bilateral hand transplant (below elbow)
for a man hailing from Kancheepuram for whom the hand was air transported from Ahmedabad. The
team of doctors from Gleneagles Global Health City was honored by Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu, His
Excellency Hon’ble Vice President of India.
A 24-year-old male from Kancheepuram had lost both hands due to high voltage electrical burns in
2018 and required his mother’s support for routine chores. Despite this challenge, he was very
confident and optimistic about having a hand transplant and leading a normal life. He also registered
with the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN) for a hand transplant.
Living with this disability for over three years, he breathed a sigh of relief on 28th May 2022 when
we received an alert from the NOTTA and TRANSTAN about a prospective hand donor from
Ahmedabad. With the support, swift action, and timely clearances of NOTTA, the respective state
governments, TRANSTAN, and DMS, the hand was flown from Ahmedabad to Chennai, covering
1800 KM, and brought to Gleneagles Global Health City.
The patient was wheeled in for a 14-hour marathon procedure, and our expert specialists performed
the transplant successfully. Dr S. Selva SeethaRaman (Director & Senior Consultant – Institute of
Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery), 8 plastic surgeons, 4 orthopedicians, a vascular surgeon,
4 anaesthetists, a nephrologist (transplant immunology), and 30 paramedical personnel comprised
the team.
Speaking at the felicitation, Hon’ble Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, His Excellency Hon’ble
Vice President of India, said: “It gives me a sense of pride that the country is blessed with such
remarkable and dedicated Doctors across states. From my understanding, the process indeed has
been strenuous, and the doctors have taken a very meticulous approach in achieving this as a team.
The progress of Gleneagles Global Health City Hospital has been remarkable over the past few years,
and their contribution to organ transplantation is noteworthy. This case is a great example to
motivate people to step forward and donate organs, especially hands of brain-dead patients, and
provide a good quality of life to the disabled.”
Elaborating the case, Dr S. Selva SeethaRaman, HOD & Senior Consultant – Institute of Plastic,
Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai, said, “Handling a case
of hand transplants requires the highest levels of precision and medical expertise. With this case, we
are happy to have recorded this rare feat of bilateral below elbow hand transplant in the state of
Tamil Nadu. The state of Tamil Nadu has been a forerunner for organ transplants in India. I want to
thank the Government departments for the excellent coordination and support in achieving this
milestone.”
Congratulating the team on the success, Dr Alok Khullar, CEO, Gleneagles Global Health City,
Chennai said, “We are extremely proud of our multi-disciplinary team led by the Plastic Surgery
Department for performing this life changing procedure and carving GGHC’s name in history in line
with our theme of “Care for Good”. I extend my hearty wishes to the entire team of doctors, nurses
and salute the donor’s family for their noble gesture.”
The uneventful procedure was performed on 28 May 2022 and has been 60 successful days since the
transplant. The patient is doing well and is on a road to recovery with intensive physiotherapy.
