NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 28
In a rare medical feat of its kind in India, Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre here simultaneously pressed into service six operation theatres – two for harvesting organs from two brain-dead patients and four for performing organ transplants – in a record time of 24 hours with 30 doctors and 50 paramedical staff completing the procedures successfully. The other scheduled surgeries were also completed. This shows the skilful coordination of all departments of the hospital rising to the occasion, hospital management’s cooperation, and the wholehearted support of the Tamil Nadu Health Department to transport the harvested organs seamlessly. The management of SRMC expresses its gratitude to one and all for help creating this feat in the medical tourism capital of India.
Two brain-dead patients, a 33-year-man and a 52-year-old woman, saved over six lives as their families have opted for organ donation at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre here recently. The multi-organ donations occurred within a span of 24 hours – January 16 and 17, respectively.
After getting approval from both families, SRMC doctors retrieved four kidneys, two livers, pancreas, heart valves, small bowel, stomach and four corneas.
The SRMC medical team has given fresh lease of lives to six patients by performing two kidney transplants, two liver transplants and two cornea transplants. Heart valves, two kidneys pancreas, small bowel, and stomach were allocated to other hospitals through the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN).
According to the doctors, P. Sathish Kumar, 33, a resident of Alapakkam colony, Vallam, Chengalpattu was admitted to SRMC on January 15 with complaints of headache, numbness of the upper limb and loss of consciousness and was diagnosed as large acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage in left ganglio capsular region. In spite of aggressive ICU treatment, his condition did not show any improvement. A team of doctors analysed his clinical condition, and declared him brain-dead on January 16.
Mangayarkarsi, his single mother and other family members wholeheartedly donated all his viable organs.
Following which one of his kidneys was transplanted to a 43-year-old female, the liver was transplanted to a 61-year-old male and two corneas were transplanted to 36 years old Female and 49 years old male at SRMC.
Another patient R. Gunasundari, 52, from Kanchipuram district was admitted at SRMC in an unresponsive state. She was diagnosed with diffuse hypoxic ischemic injury, cerebral edema and cerebellar tonsillar herniation. Her condition did not improve despite intensive treatment and she was declared brain-dead on January 17 by a panel of doctors.
Her husband M. Rajasekar and two children whole heartedly came forward to donate her viable organs.
While one of her kidneys was transplanted to a 36-year-old male, the liver was transplanted to a 48-year-old male and one cornea is scheduled to be used for a 50 years old female at SRMC in the next few days.
All the patients who received the organs have recovered well, said Dr. K. Natarajan, Professor, Dept. of Urology and Renal Transplantation.
Brain death refers to the irreversible loss of brain functions, which must be certified by a team of experts as per the law. Once a patient is declared brain dead, multiple organs and tissues can be harvested, including the heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas.
