Pune-based hospital performs bilateral lung transplant on Army soldier

A 30-year-old Indian Army soldier serving in Jammu & Kashmir, suffering from a rare, life-threatening lung condition, has been given a new lease of life after a successful bilateral lung transplant at the Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre in Pune district.

This is the first successful bilateral lung transplant performed on a serving Army soldier, according to the hospital authorities.

The soldier was diagnosed with Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (PLCH), a rare interstitial lung disease that leads to progressive respiratory failure. After his condition worsened, he was registered for a transplant at the Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre. The 12-hour-long surgery was performed on April 14. 

“This transplant required clinical precision, coordination, and above all, trust. Seeing the patient recover so rapidly is a result of every unit working in perfect sync,” lead transplant surgeon Dr. Sandeep Attawar said, adding that PLCH is a rare and complex disease.

The transfer of donor lungs was executed with military precision, hospital authorities said. With approvals from the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre, a green corridor was established to bring the organs from Dombivli to Pune in under two hours. 

“This transplant reflects the strength of our healthcare ecosystem, where advanced infrastructure, experienced clinicians, and a deeply committed support team come together to make the extraordinary possible,” Dr. P. D. Patil, Chancellor, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, said.