Lanka reaches new heights with first-ever heart-lung transplant

The first-ever heart-lung transplant in Sri Lanka was performed on Thursday at the premier state National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo.

The transplant, both the heart and lungs, carried out by a joint team of Sri Lankan and Indian Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Anaesthetists and other staff, takes the country’s transplantation programme to new heights.

The pioneering team, the NHSL and Sri Lanka await with bated breath and send out hopes and prayers for a good recovery for the transplant recipient.

Thursday’s complex surgery had been lengthy. The Sunday Times understands that the female recipient received the heart and lungs from a deceased (brain-dead) donor, a teenage girl from Kurunegala.

As is to be expected, there had been much preparation and logistical arrangements for this ground-breaking transplant at the NHSL.

The deceased donor had also given hope and a fresh lease of life to others – her liver and kidneys had also been donated to other recipients who were in dire need.