The first time Santanu found out about a problem regarding his heart condition was sometime around 2018. Early symptoms were very low pulse rate, and his average pulse rate was around 50 pulses per minute. While looking for the reason, the doctors found that his tricuspid valve was malfunctioning. Doctors concluded that his tricuspid valve was not closing correctly, and as a result, there was a backflow of blood.

This problem is known as the Ebstein anomaly. The malfunctioning of his tricuspid valve caused an enlarged right ventricle. After a couple of months, his cardiac electrophysiologist found some problem in his ECG report and concluded that he has cardiomyopathy, which means that his heart muscles are not able to pump blood.

Finally, they decided to install a dual-chamber pacemaker. During the operation, when the doctors were trying to put the dual-chamber pacemaker, they found no electrical signal in his right atrium at all, so one of the pacemaker leads can not be placed there and placed only a single channel pacemaker in his right ventricle.

A single channel pacemaker could not handle an average pulse rate of 72, so the doctors fixed the pacemaker pulse rate at 60. This operation happened in 2019. After this operation, his heart was periodically monitored through an echocardiogram and MRI. Over the next couple of months, it was observed that even after placing the pacemaker, his right ventricle was slowly increasing in size. Then doctors finally concluded that there is no other option than a heart transplant.

On 22nd January 2021, angiogram and cardiac catheterization tests were conducted in Narayana Institute of Cardiac Science (AKA Narayana Hrudayala). Based on these preliminary tests, the doctor concluded that a heart transplant would be possible for Santanu.

Still, there are many additional tests needed before the doctors are sure that he can go through a heart transplant. These groups of tests are, in general, called pre-transplant tests. After the pre-transplant tests, his name can be registered on the waiting list. Most likely, next week, he will be admitted for pre-transplant tests.

Once pre-transplant tests are done, and the doctors ensure that a transplant will be possible for Santanu, then his name will be registered in the list of patients waiting for a heart transplant. During registration, approximately 50% of the transplant cost has to be paid, which will come to around 7.5 lakhs.

After the registration, he will have to wait till a suitable heart is available for him. This waiting period can be a couple of weeks to around six months. Once a matching heart is available, the hospital will inform Santanu immediately. He will have to arrive at the hospital within 30 mins, and for this, he needs to stay very near the hospital.

After the transplant, he will be in the hospital for 15 days (most likely in ICU). Then if everything goes well, he will be discharged. After discharge, he needs to stay in a very neat and clean environment in isolation for around one month. During this period, he will be taking a heavy dosage of immunosuppressants along with loads of other medicines as well.

Because of immunosuppressants, he will highly susceptible to any kind of infection. Even a normal cold can be. After a month again, he has to admit to the hospital for 15 days to check his condition. After the transplant, periodic blood tests and regular medicines are mandatory, which will cost around 20,000 - 30,000 per month.

Till the first two years after the transplant, Santanu needs to take these medicines. After that, the dosage may reduce, but some medications will be lifelong. Additionally, multiple times a biopsy is also required as per the doctor. Each biopsy will cost around 70,000. Within the first six months after the transplant, around four times, a biopsy will be done, and after that, every year once a biopsy will be conducted.

*All these numbers mentioned above are a general figure, and they will vary depending on his condition and doctor’s recommendation*

Brief About Santanu:
He is having an excellent academy & is a rising star in the sector of academy & research. He did his Schooling at St. Xavier's, Haldia. He was a top student of Jadavpur University, Mechanical Engineering Dept. (Batch of 2008-2012). Subsequently, he completed his M. Tech & Ph.D. from IISC Banglore last year.