“Birdman of the Nilgiris” undergoes successful Heart Transplant at Fortis Malar Hospital

Chennai, November 24, 2018: World renowned wildlife photographer Mr Dharuman Nanjan recently underwent a successful heart transplant at Fortis Malar hospital. The 66-year-old was admitted to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Fortis Malar after being transferred on ventilator support from a hospital at Coimbatore. The team of doctors who successfully performed this surgery was led by Dr K R Balakrishnan, Director, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Malar Hospital and Dr Suresh Rao KG, Head of the Department, Critical Care and Cardiac Anaesthesia, Fortis Malar Hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, Nanjan suffered heart failure and had to undergo emergency surgery. He was then registered in the state transplant registry. He was surgically implanted with a Left Ventricular Assist Device to help his weakened heart pump blood while he waited for a suitable donor. After a donor heart was identified, the patient underwent transplant surgery and the transplant was well received by his body and he recovered quickly. Talking about the surgery, Dr Suresh Rao said, “We’re happy that we were able to identify a donor heart for Mr Dharuman Nanjan so quickly. The transplant lasted a little over four hours and was successful. Nanjan has recovered well and can get back to bringing joy to wildlife enthusiasts again.” “Once he was taken into the ICU at Fortis Malar, we felt safe after the long journey. From that moment on, the entire team at Fortis gave us much-needed hope and confidence. We felt he was in safe hands. Their care and prompt actions brought my husband back to a new life for which, we will be indebted forever,” said Mr Nanjan’s wife. Nanjan, who hails from Kotagiri, is popularly known as the “Birdman of the Nilgiris.”An avid wildlife photographer, he has been featured in popular wildlife magazines globally.