In a significant medical achievement, Amrita Hospital in Faridabad has successfully performed the first-ever hand transplantations in North India. The landmark surgeries, lasting around 17 hours each, took place in late December 2023, marking an important advancement in the field of medical science. The two recipients, Gautam Tayal, a 64-year-old from Delhi, and 19-year-old Devansh Gupta, also from Delhi, underwent complex hand transplantation procedures at Amrita Hospital, according to a statement by the hospital.


Notably, this marks the first instance in India, and only the second globally, where a kidney-transplant recipient has received a hand transplant, the Hospital stated.


Gautam Tayal, who had previously undergone a kidney transplant a decade ago, faced the loss of his left hand due to an industrial accident two years ago. The transplanted hand, sourced from a 40-year-old donor declared brain dead, arrived from Thane, near Mumbai.



Gautam Tayal, a 64-year-old patient from Delhi.


Dr. Mohit Sharma, Professor & Head, the Centre for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Amrita Hospital, stated, "To achieve union of the two hands, we had to join two bones, two arteries, 25 tendons, and 5 nerves."


Gautam Tayal expressed his gratitude, saying, "This hand transplant has gifted me a new lease of life. I am so happy and grateful that God, and Amrita doctors, have given me a second chance to live my life to the full."


According to the hospital's release, Devansh Gupta, a 19-year-old who lost both upper limbs and the right lower limb in a train accident three years ago, received a pair of hands from a 33-year-old donor in Surat. Dr Anil Murarka, Senior Consultant, Centre for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, highlighted the challenges, stating, "The higher the level of amputation, the more challenging the hand transplant becomes."


Gupta expressed his joy, stating, "God has finally answered my prayers."


Swami Nijamritananda Puri, Administrative Director of Amrita Hospital, praised the medical team, saying, "In a brief period, Amrita Hospital has emerged as one of the world's leading institutions for hand transplants." Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director, added, "This is a major medical feat."


The success of the surgeries was attributed to the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team, including experts in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Anesthesiology, Orthopaedics, Nephrology, Pathology, Physical Medicine, and dedicated nursing and administrative staff.


Key contributors include consultants in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, such as Dr. Shikha Gupta, Dr. Devajyoti Guin, Dr. Srilekha Reddy, Dr. Vasundhra Jain, and Dr. Arun Sharma, the release stated. The Department of Anesthesiology, led by Dr. Mukul Kapoor and supported by Dr. Shaloo Garg, Dr. Niti Gulati, and Dr. Ketan Kulkarni, played a pivotal role in managing the patient throughout the procedure and the post-operative period, it further mentioned. Orthopaedic surgeons, Dr. Mrinal Sharma and Dr. Priyadarshi Amit, along with their team, ensured the quick union of bones for limb stability.



Patient Gautam Tayal with a team of doctors at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.


In Nephrology, Dr. Zacharia Paul, Dr. Urmila Anand, and Dr. Kunal Gandhi managed crucial immunosuppression to prevent limb rejection. The Pathology Department, under the leadership of Dr. Gaurav and Dr. Arruparrna Sen Gupta, handled limb rejection diagnoses, the statement read.


Dr. Ansar Ul Haq and the Physical Medicine Department oversaw the patient's rehabilitation post-transplantation, while Dr. Charu Dua looked nutrition of the patients, it added.


The medical fraternity at Amrita Hospital expressed gratitude for the divine blessings of Amma, the institute's founder, acknowledging her as the backbone of this surgical achievement.


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