Govini Balasubramani, Director, Heart and Lung Transplant, Gleneagles Hospital, is addressing the media, along with his team of doctors who performed the lung transplant in Chennai on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: R. Ravindran
A 39-year-old homemaker from West Bengal, who was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease, now breathes easier with the lungs of a teenager.
The progressive condition caused severe scarring of the lungs and significantly impaired her breathing. Despite treatment, her condition deteriorated steadily, with her oxygen requirement increasing from 1 litre per minute to 8 litres per minute, said Govini Balasubramani, Director, heart and lung transplant, Gleneagles Hospital. He, along with his team, performed the transplant 26 days ago.
As she was small in stature, the Kolkata resident could not be given adult-sized lungs. “The patient, who had earlier been bedridden and needed assistance for everything, is now able to walk around her house without support. We discharged her in just 12 days. She was off oxygen support on day three,” Dr. Balasubamani said.
Biswarup Pal, Head of Medical Services, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, said the State’s robust organ transplant system was much appreciated and helped patients in need. “We thank the family of the donor who came forward to donate in such dire circumstances. The transplant was successful due to our coordinated multidisciplinary care and clinical excellence.”
R.Y. Bharath Kanth Reddy, Chief Executive Officer, Chennai and Hyderabad Cluster, Gleneagles Hospitals, said this was India’s first adult lung transplant using lungs from a 13-year-old donor.
Published – June 26, 2026 12:33 am IST
