GUNTUR: A 26-year-old man who survived a cardiac arrest and battled severe heart failure for three years has received a new lease of life through a successful heart transplant performed at Aster Ramesh Hospitals. Speaking to media, Chief interventional cardiologist and heart failure & transplant cardiologist Dr Pothineni Ramesh Babu said that Gundimeda Veda Prakash, who had dreams for his future, developed serious heart complications at the age of 23. For three years, he suffered from breathlessness while walking, palpitations and chest pain, which gradually progressed into severe heart dysfunction.
Veda Prakash suffered intense chest pain, lost consciousness and went into sudden cardiac arrest in March 2023. Doctors immediately performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and successfully revived him. Further medical evaluation revealed severe weakness of the left ventricle, with his heart’s pumping efficiency or Ejection Fraction (EF) reduced to 31-35 percent compared to the normal range of 55-60 percent. Doctors diagnosed him with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition that weakens the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. He also developed life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances, including Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, requiring emergency DC shock treatment.
“Though coronary angiography did not show major blockages, doctors observed sluggish blood flow. Due to the high risk of recurrent cardiac arrest, an Automated Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) was implanted in May 2024 to detect and correct dangerous heart rhythms. Despite advanced medical treatment, his heart function did not improve significantly, and doctors advised a heart transplant as the only long-term solution,” said Dr Ramesh Babu.
The patient was later registered under the Jeevandan organ donation programme. Before the transplant, his health condition resulted in his weight increasing to 105 kg. With determination and strict medical guidance, he reduced his weight to 76 kg, making him eligible for the transplant procedure. A suitable donor heart became available from a 17-year-old brain-dead donor from Machavaram, Vijayawada. The decision of the donor family to donate organs gave Veda Prakash a second chance at life.
“We have successfully performed the heart transplantation on May 26, 2026,” said Dr Ramesh Babu. He said that the case highlighted the life-saving importance of organ donation. The transplant cost was jointly borne by the state government and Ramesh hospitals trust. The patient and family expressed gratitude for the support.
