India’s preeminent cardiac surgeon K.M. Cherian passes away

Renowned Indian cardiac surgeon K.M. Cherian, known for pioneering surgeries, dies in Bengaluru; biography launched days before.

India’s preeminent cardiac surgeon K.M. Cherian, who performed India’s first coronary bypass surgery, died in Bengaluru on Saturday (January 25, 2025). Only a couple of days ago his biography Just an Instrument was launched virtually at the Kerala Literary Fest.  

Born on March 8, 1942, Dr. Cherian worked for over 50 years in the field of cardiology, training under some world-renowned leaders in the field. He is credited with performing the first heart–lung transplant in India, the second cardiac transplant, and strangely, for his profession where people stick to their chosen specialisation, he was also a pioneer in paediatric cardiac surgery. He also set up Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai and Frontier Mediville, a large medical science park on the outskirts of Chennai, to help spur research into indigenous cardiac valves, among other technology. Sources said he was attending a wedding in Bengaluru, when he suddenly collapsed.  

During the book launch in Kerala, Dr. Cherian had said each surgeon should consider the patient as part of his own family. Some of the experiences he shared on the occasion include how he performed heart surgeries on 20 Iraqi children and how he played the role of a diplomat in the release of four Indian drivers who were imprisoned in Iraq. He went on to explain his association with Mother Teresa, upon whose request he carried out surgery on a poor boy in Kolkata at minimal costs. 

After having completed his medical education in Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, he went on to teach in Christian Medical College, Vellore, before heading to the far shores of Australia and New Zealand to train further in cardiac surgery. He chose to come back to India to serve the people and the country, though he had several offers in these nations also. In the 50 plus years he served in the field, he also had a term as honorary cardiac surgeon to the President, and worked extensively with patients who came from foreign nations for treatment.