Karnataka : Interstate organ tranfer saves multiple lives

Manipal: Doctors of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal and Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru teamed up to transplant liver and kidneys of patients in the two hospitals. The organs were from the donor, a 16-year-old boy from Byndoor who died in a motor cycle accident in Manipal on October 8. He was taken to Kasturba Hospital, Manipal at 8.30 pm with head injuries. This is the second time KH, Manipal has organized an inter-city organ transfer for transplantation. The first time was earlier this year.

Four senior doctors of the hospital declared him brain dead as per the protocol stipulated by the Transplantation of Human Organ Act 1994 at 11.30 pm the same day and the second declaration was done by the doctors at 11.30 am on October 9, 2016. “He was then supported by ventilator to enable doctors to harvest the organs for transplantation,” said Dr Padmaraj Hegde, deputy Medical Superintendent who headed the team of doctors in carrying out all operations.

Dr Hegde added that the father of the boy agreed to donate his son’s organs, liver, kidneys, heart and corneas. The Manipal police was informed to facilitate all formalities including the green corridor. A patient in Manipal Hospital Bangalore was identified forthe liver and another for the valve of the heart. Dr Ravi Chander of Manipal Hospital Bengaluru came to Manipal for the organs on Sunday night.

Dr Ravi took the 8 am flight Monday from Mangaluru to Bengaluru with the liver and heart. While the liver was for immediate transplantation, the valve from the heart was to be used for another patient, later.

“The two kidneys have been transplanted to patients from Shivamoga and Kundapura while the corneas have been preserved in the hospital,” said Dr Padmaraj who is also Prof and head of the Urology Department. Dr Arun Chawla also of the Urology department assisted him in the operation which began at 2.30 am. “The patients who have received the kidneys are doing well,” he added.