In a remarkable medical achievement, a teenage schoolgirl from Mumbai has become the youngest person in the world to undergo an arm transplant from the shoulder level. The operation was performed at a private hospital using a donated arm flown in from Surat, marking a significant milestone in medical history.
The transplant involved a donated arm from a 9-year-old girl declared brain dead after battling a brain tumour. The surgery was led by Dr Nilesh G. Satbhai and his team, lasting nearly 12 hours. “This is a historic set of events,” Dr Satbhai remarked, noting both the donor and recipient hold record-breaking titles in India.
Anamta Aqeel Ahmad, 15, from Goregaon, faced a life-altering tragedy when she was just 13. While playing on the terrace in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, she accidentally touched a live 11-KV electric wire, resulting in severe burns and a massive electric shock. Her right hand later developed gangrene and required amputation, while her left arm sustained critical injuries.
Despite her challenges, Anamta displayed incredible resilience. She learned to write with her left hand and excelled academically, achieving 92 percent in her SSC examinations, including an impressive 98 marks in Hindi. Anamta’s family remained hopeful throughout her recovery, exploring various hospitals across India, Thailand, and Singapore for potential solutions. After a long search, they met Dr Satbhai at Gleneagles Hospital in Mumbai, a facility renowned for hand transplant surgeries.
“My daughter underwent a detailed pre-operative checkup and was listed for hand transplantation,” her father, Aqeel Ahmad, recounted. After over a year of waiting, the family received news of a suitable donor from Surat.
With the help of a local NGO, the family of the deceased girl readily agreed to donate her arm. Prompt arrangements were made for the arm to be safely airlifted from Surat to Mumbai by chartered flight.
Dr Satbhai elaborated on the complexities involved in the surgery. Hand transplantation is inherently challenging, especially when the amputation occurs at a high level like Anamta’s. The team had to assess and repair blood vessels and nerves in the shoulder area under the collarbone, a task that required precision and skill.
A crucial aspect of the procedure was to restore blood circulation to the donated arm within six hours to ensure its viability. The operation involved a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, immunologists, and intensive care physicians to ensure a successful outcome.
Following the successful surgery, Anamta is recovering in the ICU and is expected to be discharged in about two weeks. She will require lifelong immunosuppression and will soon begin physiotherapy and rehabilitation, which typically takes 9 to 12 months for a near-normal functional recovery.
Aqeel Ahmad expressed his family’s gratitude: “Our daughter’s tragedy was a wrenching experience for the whole family. Anamta was crying with joy and relief, and now looks forward to returning to school and living a full life.” This pioneering transplant not only gives Anamta a new lease on life but also showcases the potential of medical advancements in overcoming severe injuries.
Anamta’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of medical science. As she embarks on her recovery journey, her experience serves as an inspiring reminder of the possibilities that exist through organ donation and innovative surgical techniques.