Lucknow, April 25 -- : In a significant step towards safer post-operative care, doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) have drawn up a detailed recovery plan for a 43-year-old heart transplant recipient from Sitapur, placing as much emphasis on her home environment as on her clinical progress.

The patient, who underwent a complex heart transplant on April 12, is recovering steadily and is likely to be discharged on Sunday. In a departure from routine practice, the institute has decided to extend medical supervision beyond discharge by sending a team to assess her residence before she returns home.

Doctors say recovery after a heart transplant goes far beyond surgical success. It requires sustained ...