77-year-old gives new lease of life to three after brain death

The family of a 77-year-old female, who was declared brain dead at HCMCT Manipal Hospital (Dwarka) took the brave decision of donating her liver and corneas on Wednesday, 21^st June 2023. The liver was allocated by National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and transplanted at another city hospital. Both the corneas were also retrieved by the eye bank.

Dr. Shrikanth Srinivasan, Head of Critical Care, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “The patient suffered from a massive brain hemorrhage and was placed on ventilator three days ago at Manipal palamvihar. Despite the sustained efforts by a large team of doctors, her condition continued to deteriorate, and she was declared brain dead.”

Dr. (Colonel) Avnish Seth VSM, Head, Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST) said, ‘The team worked closely with the patient’s family, providing them with the required information and support so that they could make an informed decision. The family was very keen to donate all her organs. However, the kidneys could not used as she was suffering from chronic kidney disease. The liver was retrieved by our hospital team and transported for a successful transplantation. The family saved the life of a patient in critical condition and gave the gift of sight to two others.”

Ms Viji Varghese,Director, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the donor family for their decision to support organ and cornea donation. There is an increasing awareness towards this noble cause in the country. We are also grateful for the support we receive from NOTTO, which plays a pivotal role in prompt allocation of organs in a transparent manner.”

There is a wide gap between patients who need transplants and the organs that are available in India. 1.8 lakh people suffer from renal failure every year, however only 10,000 renal transplants are done. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants are needed annually in India but only about thousand five hundred are performed. Similarly, of several thousand who suffer from heart failure, only 200 get a heart transplant. In the case of Corneas, about 25,000 transplants are done every year against a requirement of 1 lakh.[1]

The noble act of organ donation highlights the pressing need for organ donations in India, as there is a significant disparity between patients awaiting transplants and the availability of organs. Increasing awareness and participation in organ donation can bridge this gap and offer hope to countless lives in need.