Mangaluru: First Ever Cadaveric Transplant in the Coastal Region done at AJ Hospital

Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Hotel Janatha Delux Hall, Dr Prashanth Marla- Medical Director, Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, AJ Shetty and Research Centre said, “There are estimated about 160 people per million population end up in end stage kidney failure, for which transplantation is the best option. There is a need for 25,000 kidney transplants every year, but on the contrary 3,500 transplants are being done per year in India.

There is subsequent number of people who land up with liver failure too, who require transplantation. It is estimated that about 150,000 die in India due to road traffic accidents, out of which at least 50% people reach hospital and later declared brain dead. If about 20% of such people’s relatives wish for cadaveric organ donation, it will help significant number of patients. In the developed world it is much more common compared to India where it is still in the early stage”.

“Each cadaveric donor can give fresh lease of life to about 50 people, but in India only Liver, Kidneys, Heart valve, Heart and Corneal donations are common. What is brain dead? If a person with head injury, where the all other organs function normally except the brain stem, which means to say that it is reached a stage which cannot be reversed. If left, patient would be dependent on ventilator forever till the heart seizes / stops its function” added Dr Marla.

He further said, “There is an increased awareness among people regarding organ donation which might help in future for those who need organ replacement. 13th April, 2015 was a day to be written in golden letters when cadaveric donation happened for the first time in Dakshina Kannada. Now within a short span of less than 3 months, the second cadaveric organ donation in this region, but with a difference. It is a landmark day as the FIRST ever cadaveric kidney transplantation was done successfully on 3rd July, 2015”.

Dr Sushanth, Nephrologist at AJ Hospital, and also who was part of the surgery team during transplant said, “It was the family’s wish of Leena Binoy, 42 year old road traffic accident victim, who was declared brain dead on 2nd July, 2015 that her organs be donated. Soon after learning the family’s wish, it was immediately conveyed to the Zonal Co-Ordination Committee of Transplantation, Karnataka who in turn activated the Retrieval Team and the recipient list for organs. After necessary legal clearances the Organ Retrieval Team of ZCCK came from Bangalore to retrieve the organs”.

“List of our patients who had registered under ZCCK was activated and we identified the recipient from the same blood group and intimated them to come for cross matching tests. Once all the laboratory tests were within normal limits and the legal formalities were done, the Retrieval Team came through ZCCK handed over the kidney to us, which was transplanted successfully to a 32 year old male patient from Udupi who was suffering from renal failure and was on dialysis. The surgery team comprised of myself and a team of Urologists and Transplant Surgeons Dr. S P Shenoy, Dr. Prashanth Marla and Dr. Pritam Sharma” added Dr Sushanth.

Dr Sushanth further said, “The recipient is doing fine following the surgery. The transplanted kidney started functioning immediately and recipient would be discharged probably within 2 weeks.This should increase awareness in the public about organ donation and when possible help people donate the organs to the needy to give a fresh lease of life to them. We take this opportunity to thank the Police Department and Jet Airways for their co-operation in coordinating the entire process of transporting the retrieved organs”.

Dr SP Shenoy, Dr Pritham Sharma, and Shivaprasad Shetty- Marketing Consultant were also present during the press meet.