New Delhi: A 65-year-old woman suffering from end-stage interstitial lung disease (ILD), caused by scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disorder, got a fresh lease of life after undergoing a complex bilateral lung transplant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. The critical surgery became possible through the benevolent organ donation by the family of a 48-year-old brain-dead patient in Noida.For over a year, the patient was oxygen-dependent 24/7, requiring 4–5 litres of supplemental oxygen per minute to survive. Her lung condition had deteriorated to such an extent that even routine tasks like walking across a room or speaking for a few minutes became difficult. Without oxygen support, her saturation would drop to as low as 70%, putting her life at constant risk.Despite aggressive treatment and extended immunosuppressive therapy, her condition continued to decline, leading doctors to evaluate her for a lung transplant — a complex procedure with significant risks, particularly for elderly patients with autoimmune complications.“Her lungs were failing fast. We knew time was not on our side,” said Dr Avdhesh Bansal, senior consultant in respiratory medicine. “She was barely able to function and had reached the end stage of her disease.”On May 14, the patient was admitted to the hospital. The following day, a compatible donor became available — a 48-year-old patient declared brain-dead at Fortis Hospital, Noida. The transplant proceeded thanks to his family’s noble decision to donate his organs.The seven-hour operation was performed with the patient on ECMO support — an essential measure to maintain oxygenation and circulation during the procedure.Discussing the transplant’s success, Dr Mukesh Goel, senior consultant for cardiothoracic surgery, said: “In this case, the patient had extensive lung fibrosis and reduced pulmonary reserve, making the surgery extremely high-risk. Post-transplant, she required ventilatory support and underwent a tracheostomy due to a poor cough reflex. Over the following weeks, she underwent more than 15 bronchoscopies to manage airway secretions until her natural respiratory reflexes were restored. The patient was gradually taken off all external support, shifted to oral immunosuppressive medication, and started on a structured rehabilitation programme to support recovery and improve lung function.”He noted that their team managed the retrieval and transplant within strict time constraints to maintain graft viability.Dr Bansal added, “Rehabilitation has been as important as the surgery itself. Structured physiotherapy, nutritional support, and emotional counselling have all played a role in her recovery.”
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