On world heart day, woman waits for heart

CHENNAI: In June, 46-year-old Mohana Thirupurasundari walked up to the Tirumala hill shrine. Today, she is confined to a hospital bed with a mechanically assisted heart beat. Doctors have said that her survival depends on an emergency heart transplant.
Chennai is known for having conducted the largest number of heart transplants in the country. But on the eve of the World Heart Day, observed on September 29, doctors at Frontier Lifeline hospital, where Mohana is admitted, were still waiting for a suitable heart.This was five days after they flagged Mohana's case as an emergency to the organ donation cell.
"Doctors have said that an immediate heart transplant is the only way out for my mother. We need to find a B+ heart as soon as possible," said Dr S Karunya, Mohana's daughter.
Mohana was admitted on July 20 after she complained of breathlessness and was diagnosed with heart failure. After doctors ruled out treatment using medication or stem cell therapy, Mohana underwent surgery on August 23 and a pump, called a left ventricle assist device, was inserted in her heart. The device was to act as a bridge to a heart transplant, which the doctors recommended within a month.
The pump completed its lifespan on September 23. "Doctors have detected some blood clots in the pump. If the clot moves to her brain, it can result in kidney, liver or lung damage," said Karunya, adding that Mohana's kidneys were deteriorating.
Doctors had planned open heart surgery on Tuesday to remove the clot. However, they decided against it as they did not want to put Mohana through surgery before her transplant.
"She was alright soon after the pump was inserted. Now she is hardly able to eat or leave the bed," said Karunya. Earlier this month, the family of D Srinivasan, who was declared brain dead, offered to donate his heart to Mohana. But it did not come through as forensic experts said Srinivasan's heart was essential for postmortem. Srinivasan had suffered severe head injuries when he fainted and fell down the stairs after working out at a gym.
Mohana's treatment is expensive though the family is bearing it. The cost of implanting the assist device, daily maintenance and investigations costs around Rs 15 lakh for 30 days. Patients have to spend another Rs 10 lakh for a heart transplant.