Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) harvested organs from a brain dead donor and transplanted them in patients with kidney failure and liver failure on May 7.

According to a JIPMER release on May 9, the donor belonged to Panruti, Cuddalore, met with an accident while, riding on a two-wheeler, sustained serious head injuries was referred to JIPMER after giving first aid at Panruti Government Hospital on May 3. He was hospitalized in a grave condition and was under treatment in the causality ICU. However, his condition did not improve and he was determined to be brain dead by the concerned experts and the same was conveyed to the donor’s family.

The family members of the deceased came forward to donate organs as they felt that it would help others with organ failure to lead a better life. Consent for organ donation was given by the donor's wife, brother, and brother in law Mr Prakash. As it was a medico-legal case, the concerned police station was intimated and formal request for inquest was made, to allow organ harvesting.

Mr Arokiyaraj Inspector of Police and Mr Ravichandran head constable, Panrutti Police station readily came to JIPMER and conducted inquest and completed other medico-legal formalities, thus facilitating the organ donation process. Both Kidneys, Liver were harvested and were transplanted to needy patients in JIPMER Hospital on May 7.

The brain death certification was done by a team of experts led by Dr Sunil Narayan (Neurology) and Dr P Narayanan (Pediatrics). The organ harvesting and transplantation at JIPMER were performed by a team of multi organ transplant specialists led by Dr Sandeep Mishra (HOD, Anaesthesiology), Dr Lenin Babu, Dr Mohan, Dr Satyaprakash, Dr SakthiRajan Paneerselvam (Anesthesiology and Critical care), Dr R Manikandan and Dr Sreerag (Urology), Dr Satish Haridasan (Nephrology) and Dr Biju Pottakkat (Surgical Gastroenterology).

The process of counselling the family for organ donation, organizing the brain death certification, medico-legal formalities and coordination with various departments in JIPMER and administrators involved with the entire process of harvesting organs from the brain donor was done by a team of transplant coordinators comprising of Mr R Prakash, Ms S Nirmala and Mr V Arjun lead by the Nodal Officer, NOTTO, JIPMER, Dr Sreejith Parameswaran.

After the donor family gave consent, arrangement was made for harvesting the organs and the transplantation operations on an emergency basis with the help of the Medical superintendent. Appreciating the family, even though they are poor, they readily came forward to donate the organs to save the lives of 3 patients with kidney and liver failure, Dr Vishnu Bhat, Director, JIPMER said that all the patients who underwent transplantation are recovering well in the ICU.

He added saying that the wisdom and magnanimity of the family should serve as a role model for others, Dr Vishnu Bhat also said that JIPMER administration has been focusing on setting up of multi-organ transplantation programs in JIPMER hospital. So far 160 kidney transplant operations have been performed at JIPMER. Liver transplantation was started in the year 2017 and so far 4 liver transplantation were performed at JIPMER. Cornea transplantation is being performed regularly at JIPMER.