Four give life to 10 in death, through organ donation

Four cadaver organ donations in last two months alone have given new lease of life to 10 critically-ill patients at Apollo Hospital in the city. Surgeons in organ transplantation feel there is an urgent need to spread awareness about cadaver organ donation, which can go a long way in helping patients in need of liver or kidneys.

While patients suffering from kidney ailments can survive on dialysis, there is no hope – other than transplantation – for those in advanced stages of liver diseases including cirrhosis of the liver that is an irreversible condition.

As per Dr Chirag Desai, liver transplant surgeon at Apollo Hospital, hardly one out of five cadavers is suitable for liver donation.

“This is because only part of donor’s liver is taken from a live donor hence criteria is very strict,” said Dr Desai. “We need to consider size of the liver, its quality and blood group among other parameters. Just that part of liver donated is expected to carry out all functions of the full organ. However, when a liver is harvested from a cadaver, the entire liver is used in transplantation, making the job much easier,” he added.

In India, there is need for 20,000 liver transplants per year but at present, less than 1,000 transplants happen.

“You can imagine shortage of organs. We need to spread awareness about cadaver organ donation as it is the last ray of hope for several patients. I have known patients who died waiting for a liver,” said Dr Desai. The exorbitant price of liver transplantation may be another reason why the option is beyond reach of several patients, he said.

Contrary to popular belief, organs are never traded, clarified Dr Shamik Shah, a city-based transplant nephrologist.  

“It’s a misconception that organs are traded. Organ donation is a transparent process with preference being given to the first patient on the waiting list,” said Dr Shah.

Transplant physician, Dr Shravan Bohra believes that though liver transplantation is a complicated procedure, it drastically improves quality of life of recipient patient.

What is cadaver donation?
Organs of only brain-dead patients (those who have suffered irreversible brain damage) and surviving on artificial life support can be donated.

Deceased should be free of any sort of infection or transmissible disease.

The organs of the deceased should not be damaged.
Hospitals can counsel relatives of a brain-dead patient for organ donation.

The donation cannot be done in lieu of any sort of benefit, monetary or otherwise.

How to be an organ donor?
Always carry your donor card with you & communicate to your kith and kin about your desire for cadaver donation. Signing up for organ donation is of no use if your family is unaware of your wish.

In case of brain-death in your family, you can ask the hospital about possibility of organ donation.

Get yourself registered with an organisation that helps co-ordinate organ donation like Shatayu (079-66189000).