Dr Jnanesh Thacker achieves unique milestone of 500 heart, lung transplants

Hyderabad: Surgical Director of Heart, Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation and Mechanical Assist Devices, Yashoda Hospitals, Dr Jnanesh Thacker has achieved a unique milestone of having completed 500 heart and lung transplants, taken up all over the world.

Known among his peers as a pioneer in heart and lung transplantation in the country, Dr Jnanesh had performed the first successful lung transplantation on an Indian patient in India. Among other achievements, Dr Jnanesh also conducted first lung transplantation in a teaching hospital and also the first minimally invasive double lung transplantation in India, a statement issued by Yashoda Hospitals on Wednesday said.

On the Occasion, Dr. Pavan Gorukanti, Director Yashoda Hospitals congratulated the transplant expert for achieving the milestone. “Despite the Covid pandemic, thanks to the international expertise of Dr Jnanesh, we have continued to provide quality transplant services for sick patients including treating many irreversible severe post Covid fibrosis cases,” he said.

Dr Thacker has conducted several heart and lung transplantations in US, Austria, UPMC, Pittsburg, Temple University Philadelphia. He was also featured on the cover page of Temple’s Capsule magazine for performing more than 70 transplant surgeries in three months.

Dr Thacker’s aim is to spread awareness on heart and lung transplants in India where such surgeries are still at its infancy. Due to significant development in surgical treatments, patients are able to survive for a long time and their quality of life has improved. As a result, heart and lung transplants will see a significant jump in the coming years in India, he said.