Navi Mumbai: A 42-year-old farmer from Beed, Maharashtra, received a new lease of life after undergoing a rare small intestine transplant at a Mumbai Hospital. The life-saving organ, retrieved from a cadaveric donor in Delhi, travelled over 1,400 kilometers and reached Nanavati Max Super Speciality hospital in just four-and-a-half hours, thanks to an intricately coordinated effort involving air and ground transport.
The donor, a 21-year-old woman declared brain dead following a road traffic accident in Delhi, became a lifesaver when her family consented to donate her organs. Siddheshwar Dake, the recipient, had been battling persistent abdominal pain and severe cramps for two years, but doctors across Marathwada had failed to provide a definitive diagnosis.
His condition worsened earlier this year, prompting his admission to a private hospital in Sambhajinagar, where his family was referred to Nanavati Max Hospital’s Liver, Intestine, and Pancreas OPD. Dr. Gaurav Chaubal, Director – HPB Surgery & Liver and Multi-Organ Transplant at Nanavati Max, explained that imaging revealed the patient’s small intestine had turned gangrenous due to Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) thrombosis—a result of a hypercoagulable blood condition. Immediate surgery was performed to remove the dead tissue, but a transplant was the only long-term solution.
With no living donor available, Dake was placed on the national cadaveric transplant waiting list. A month later, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) notified the hospital of a suitable donor in Delhi. A specialised organ retrieval team, supported by Max Hospital Shalimar Bagh and BLK-Max Hospital, was dispatched with necessary equipment. The procedure was conducted swiftly, with critical support from Delhi police and medical personnel ensuring a green corridor for rapid transportation.
“The retrieved intestine arrived at Nanavati Max Hospital within 10 minutes of landing. The transplant was completed within eight hours, well within the organ’s viability window,” said Dr. Chaubal. Dake was discharged in stable condition three weeks later and is currently recovering well.
“This rare interstate transplant showcases the importance of detailed planning and precise execution across medical, logistical, and governmental departments,” said Dr. Vivek Talaulikar, Chief Operating Officer (Western Region), Max Healthcare. “Each step—from aviation and ambulance coordination to immunological testing—was handled with utmost precision.”
Small intestine transplants are among the most complex solid organ procedures, performed only at highly specialised centres due to surgical and post-operative challenges, said the doctor.
