Despite the unimaginable grief, his wife made the courageous and selfless decision to donate all his organs, duly supported by her family and counseling team. The liver and both kidneys were retrieved and allocated by NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization), while the heart and lungs were deemed unfit for transplant. The liver was transplanted into a 61-year-old male, and one kidney into a 52-year-old male, both at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka. The second kidney was transplanted into a 59-year-old female at another private hospital in Delhi.

Dr. Shrikanth Srinivasan, Chairman, Manipal Institute of Critical Care Medicine, “Despite the best efforts of the treating team, the patient’s condition did not improve and was declared brain dead on 12^th May 2025. Despite the profound loss, the family made the courageous decision to donate his organs, offering a gift of life to those in need. Their strength and compassion in such a difficult time is truly inspiring and serve as a powerful reminder of the impact one life can have on many.”

Dr. (Col) Avnish Seth VSM, Head, Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST), said, “Organ donation should be an essential component of end-of-life care. Only if the family is fully convinced that their loved one succumbed despite the best possible treatment, will they consider doing something for others. Trust is an important component. Transparency in the allocation of organs as per the waiting list, like it is being done in our country by NOTTO, gives a lot of confidence to the family to arrive at the correct decision. This altruistic gesture by the family has saved three lives, and this is the true spirit of humanity. He will live on.”

There remains a wide gap between patients who need transplants and the organs that are available in India. Around 1.8 lakh people suffer from kidney failure every year, however, only 13,426 kidney transplants were performed in 2023. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants are needed annually in India, but only 4491 were performed in 2023. Similarly, out of several thousand people suffering from heart failure, only 221 received a heart transplant. In the case of corneas, about 25,000 transplants are performed annually against a requirement of 1 lakh.

This 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. 

The post Father of 9-Year-Old Heroically Saves Three Lives Through Organ Donation appeared first on NRI News.

CHENNAI: In a remarkable medical achievement, the heart of a brain-dead patient in CMC Ranipet was transported to MGM Healthcare in Chennai for a life-saving transplant within just 1 hour and 30 minutes. This feat was made possible due to the collective efforts of medical professionals and the dedicated support of traffic authorities in both cities.

The donor heart, harvested from a 20-year-old man who met with a tragic road traffic accident in Vellore, was swiftly transported today. The Heart and Lung Transplant Team, led by the accomplished Dr. KR Balakrishnan, made the strategic decision to transport the precious organ by road via Kanchipuram, Sunguvarchatram, Sriperumbudur, Maduravoyal, Koyambedu reaching Aminjikarai ensuring the fastest possible arrival to Chennai.

This exceptional achievement was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the medical teams and the unwavering support of the Ranipet, Chennai, and Greater Chennai Traffic Police. The establishment of a “green corridor” facilitated the swift and seamless transportation of the organ. Such green corridors have proven to be invaluable in expediting organ transfers from donors to recipients, contributing to the efficiency of organ transplantation procedures and saving numerous lives. The Medical Green Corridor initiative has emerged as a vital tool in enhancing organ transplant procedures and increasing the number of lives saved across India.

The heart was transplanted into a 34-year-old female patient suffering from heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Under the skillful guidance of Dr. KR Balakrishnan, Director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support at MGM Healthcare, the transplant was performed with great success, offering the recipient a new lease of life.

This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the dedication of healthcare professionals and the collaborative spirit of communities working together to save lives. The rapid organ transportation, coupled with the expertise of the medical team, exemplifies the incredible progress made in organ transplantation and highlights the potential for further advancements in the field. MGM Healthcare extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to TRANSTAN for its invaluable support and cooperation in making this life-saving procedure possible.

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PUNE: The Organ Donation Summit, hosted by Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST) in association with ZTCC Pune, ISCCM Pune, and MOHAN Foundation, concluded on October 5, 2024, in Pune. The two-day event brought together leading national and international experts in organ donation and transplantation to discuss important topics such as “Donation after Circulatory Death” (DCD) and “Quality Assessment in Organ Donation,” which set new standards for organ donation procedures in India.  Dr. (Col) Avnish Seth, VSM, Head of Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST) served as the Organizing Chairperson.

National and international specialists presented their perspectives, with particular focus on the potential for Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) to boost India’s donor pool. This summit was also the first time that Quality Assessment in organ donation and the need for Key Performance Indicators specific to India were discussed.  The summit was also a final step in the creation of a consensus statement of the National Consortium on Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP) for DCD. The event also investigated new technology and techniques for improving donation processes and outcomes.

While speaking at the summit, Dr. (Col) Avnish Seth, VSM, Head, Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST) said, “In 2023 we crossed 1000 organ donors following brain death for the first time in India. In brain death, the heart is still beating so that the blood supply to organs continues. We are now moving towards establishing protocols for DCD. Here, since the heart has stopped, one must move quickly to save organs. One of the ways this can be done effectively is by re-establishing circulation for 2 to 4 hours by a process called Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP). Through Organ Donation Summit 2024, we have made significant progress towards developing a low-cost, hybrid, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation system for NRP in India. This summit marks a critical turning point for organ donation in India, and the innovations and discussions we’ve seen here will help improve transplant outcomes and save more lives in the years to come.”

Dilip Jose, Managing Director and CEO, of Manipal Hospitals, “At Manipal Hospitals, we believe that organ donation is a powerful way to give others a second chance at life. The MOST Summit represents our commitment to raising awareness and improving the systems that make this life-saving practice possible. Our goal is to ensure that every patient in need of a transplant has access to the care they deserve, and that organ donation becomes a more widely understood and accepted practice in India.”

Dr. Anil Kumar, Director, of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), “Organ donation is one of the most powerful ways to give someone a new lease on life. Quality assessment at each step from early identification of potential donors to organ retrieval and transplantation is important for achieving excellence and promoting best practices in the field.’ With thousands of people in need of transplants, people need to understand the impact they can make by becoming organ donors after death.”

The highlight of the summit was the presentation of a low-cost hybrid Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) circuit for normothermic regional perfusion, a technology specifically designed to improve organ preservation in DCD scenarios. This innovation is poised to revolutionize the organ donation process by increasing the viability of organs for transplantation, thus saving more lives.

A significant part of the Organ Donation Summit 2024 focused on navigating the ethical and practical challenges surrounding the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, a crucial aspect of DCD. The summit concluded with a strong call for deeper collaboration among healthcare professionals, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations to establish a sustainable organ donation framework so that more lives can be saved through timely transplants.

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PUNE: A five-year-old boy who suffered severe complications from a chikungunya infection, including brain encephalitis and multi-organ failure, was discharged from Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory this week, marking a significant triumph in pediatric medical care.

The child was initially seen by Dr Vinod Shelar, a Pediatrician at Chandan Nagar on August 18, due to a high fever but he started getting fits hence was urgently transferred to Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory Nagar Road – PICU, for specialized care. 

“On arrival at MomStory, he had persistent convulsions and signs of severe brain infection including unequal pupils indicative of increased intracranial pressure. We noted the child’s condition required immediate intervention with ventilator support due to his unstable breathing and ongoing seizures, Continuous EEG monitoring also showed ongoing continuous convulsions that needed aggressive management to control it. This entity is called Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus where convulsions are not seen but in the brain, there are ongoing convulsions.  Hence he was started on continuous infusion of medicine to control ongoing seizures and raised brain pressure. Slowly EEG started to normalize. This if not treated urgently can cause severe brain dysfunction,” said Dr. Sagar Lad, Senior Pediatric Intensivist at Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory.

“The initial outlook was concerning as further tests showed acute liver failure which is seen in less than 3% of patients with chikungunya infection and needs urgent medication for liver regeneration and very low platelet and white blood cell counts, making treatment more complex. He received blood and platelet transfusions. He also had low blood pressure and refractory shock required medicines to normalize Blood pressure. A real-time PCR test soon confirmed a severe chikungunya infection. The situation worsened when he developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare and dangerous condition where the body’s immune system starts to damage its organs. These complications require strong treatment plans, including Intravenous Immunoglobulin and steroids, to effectively control the immune system’s excessive response,” explained Dr. Sagar Lad.

Dr. Pradeep Suryawanshi, Director of Neonatology & Paediatrics at Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory, stated, “During his stay, the child underwent continuous monitoring and multiple treatment adjustments to address the complex interplay of the infection and its broad impacts on his brain and other organs. The brain scans revealed widespread signs of encephalitis, a severe and uncommon condition in chikungunya cases.”

“After a tough but successful 14-day stay in the hospital with 2 weeks of ventilation the child made incredible progress and no longer needed the ventilator. His thinking and movement skills are almost back to normal, despite the severity of his case. He is now interacting well with the world around him,” said Dr. Suryawanshi.

On September 1, the child was discharged from the hospital. His condition had stabilized significantly, and he was able to return home with no ongoing neurological deficits.

“The family thanked the doctors and hospital staff deeply for their dedication and care, which transformed a critical situation into a story of survival and hope,” said Dr Prateek Kataria, senior consultant at the hospital.

The concerted efforts of a multidisciplinary team include Dr. Prateek Kataria, Dr. Preeti Lad, Dr. Sushmita Nimagadda, Dr Nikita Mankar, Dr Aaishwarya Dalal, Dr. Pranjali Fulari, Dr. Neha Kunturkar, and Dr. Dinesh Thakre, with critical support from pediatric liver specialist Dr. Snehvardhan Pandey and pediatric hematologist Dr. Kannan.

“Chikungunya is considered to be not a very serious infection in children but in this current situation in Pune, we are seeing very complicated chikungunya infection, especially in children affecting the brain causing convulsion, decreasing level of consciousness, and even coma. If not detected early can be life-threatening. Probably this is due to a change in the Virulence factor of the virus,” said Dr Sagar Lad.

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PUNE: In a significant medical achievement, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Hadapsar, successfully performed a liver transplant on Sanjay Chavan (name changed) who is from Washim, who had been suffering from decompensated liver cirrhosis for the past three years. This life-saving surgery underscores the importance of timely medical intervention and the profound impact of organ donation.

Chavan had been battling severe liver issues, including a rise in bilirubin levels and ascites. His condition required an immediate liver transplant. Fortunately, a 47-year-old man who had suffered a brain hemorrhage generously donated his liver. The donor was brought to Sahyadri Hospital in an emergency, where the organ donation process was facilitated.

ZTCC’s organ allocation process played a crucial role in this life-saving procedure. According to ZTCC guidelines, priority is given to recipients registered at the same hospital as the donor. Mr. Sanjay, being the registered recipient at Sahyadri Hospital, was prioritized for the transplant.

“Sanjay’s case is a testament to the importance of timely intervention, effective counseling, and the coordinated efforts of our medical team. Just last month, our team achieved another milestone by completing the first liver transplant at our Hadapsar facility. We are grateful to the donor’s families for their noble decisions, which have given these patients new leases on life. This series of successful procedures demonstrates our team’s dedication and the advanced medical capabilities at Sahyadri Hospital. We aim to continue providing such life-saving interventions and improving patient outcomes,” said Dr. Bipin Vibhute, Head of Liver & Multi-organ Transplant Dept., Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune.

The successful transplant was performed by a highly skilled team of doctors, including Dr. Bipin Vibhute, Dr. Apurv Deshpande, Dr. Anirudha Bhosale, Dr. Dinesh Zirpe, Dr. Radhika, Dr. Manish Pathak, Dr. Manoj Raut, Dr. Sheetal Mahajani, Dr. Kiran Shinde along with Transplant coordinator Rahul Tambe and Priyanka Bhujbal. The critical care support was provided by Dr. Kapil Borawake and Dr. Satish from the ICU team. The entire process, from donor identification to transplant, was executed with precision, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to excellence in healthcare.

Just a month before this successful procedure, Sahyadri Hospital in Hadapsar had marked another milestone with its first-ever liver transplant at this facility. The recipient, a 49-year-old male from Parbhani, had been diagnosed with decompensated chronic liver disease. The availability of a suitable donor at the hospital enabled the medical team to carry out this groundbreaking surgery, setting a precedent for future life-saving interventions at Hadapsar.

The post Organ Donation Saves 6 Lives In Pune With Two Liver Transplants In A Month At Sahyadri Hospital Hadapsar appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: Bebasi’- a short film about the importance and issues surrounding organ donation and organ transplant was released at NFAI, Law College Road. The film has been written and directed by Pune-based Raahul Panshikar, produced by Rahul’s Grafix, and has received special support from Fleetguard-Filtrum Pvt. Ltd.

Well-known actor, Mohan Joshi, and the entire cast of the film, Sanjay Kulkarni – President of Fleetguard, Niranjan Kirloskar – Managing Director of Fleetguard, Dr Mahesh Kotbagi – Director, Rotary International, Dr Sanjay Shinde – Inspector General of Crime Investigation Department (CID), Mr. Milind Mohite – Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr. Harish Raichur, Dr. Sneha Gharmalkar and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

The level of public awareness regarding organ donation and organ transplants is at a very nascent stage today in India. People are not aware of the difficulties one faces during organ transplantation along with the government schemes available for the same. Through Bébasi, Panshikar proposes that aid for organ transplant procedures should be brought under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). That will make these procedures prohibitive costs, and accessible even to poor people.

‘Bebasi’ is the third sequel of Raahul Panshikar’s two earlier films- ‘Raakh’ and ‘Duvidha’. ‘Bebasi’ depicts the plight of the family of an honest man, Tatyasaheb Joglekar, who has dedicated his life to the education of poor children. Tatyasaheb, the main character in the short film, played by Mohan Joshi, mortgages his house to build a school for deprived children.

Tatyasaheb and his family are beaming with happiness when his son completes his engineering and gets employed. However, their happiness is short-lived when they learn about the serious ailment of their son and the need for an organ transplant. The story movingly reveals the family’s emotional turmoil after realizing that their child has only 3-4 weeks along with the positive portrayal of the help offered by some sensitive people in the society.

The movie delves into the efforts Tatyasaheb takes to include organ donation under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the follow-up he takes on government schemes to guide the deprived people of society to seek timely help. The options have been effectively conveyed to the audience, helping to create awareness of the issues and offering solutions about organ transplants and organ donation.

‘Bebasi’ also appeals to seek help from authentic hospitals, social organizations, and government organizations to curb the illegal organ transplant racket being run in the country.

Speaking at the film release, Raahul Panshikar said, “Films play an important role in social change, and with a topic like an organ transplant and organ donation we wanted to make sure we not only create awareness but also guide people towards the authentic options available as help”

Niranjan Kirloskar mentioned that lakhs of rupees are being spent on organ transplants and dialysis of patients. He expressed hope that like all technologies, these costs will also come down eventually. He added that awareness about organ donation was the need of the hour, which has been addressed in ‘Bebasi’.  

Dr. Sanjay Shinde expressed his belief that this short film would help several people looking at organ transplant and donation as it covers all the necessary aspects.

Milind Mohite said, “After the law came into force in 1994, organ donation has gained momentum, and it is nice to see how ‘Bebasi’ had handled this topic bringing out the essence of humanity.”

To appeal to the people, Dr. Mahesh Kotbagi suggested opening multiple free dialysis centers and creating awareness about these to as many needy citizens as possible.

Dr. Raichur, who had been carrying out several initiatives on organ donation in Solapur, appreciated the message given through Bébasi and talked about several challenges in encouraging people to volunteer for organ donation.

During the release function, Raahul Panshikar made the introductory remarks and thanked the participants for their valuable contribution.

The post ‘Bébasi’-A Short Film Released At National Film Archives Of India (NFAI) appeared first on NRI News.

The medical team of critical care department & Transplant Coordinator Ms. Reshma Kulawade counselled the family about organ donation. After receiving consent from the family, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) was immediately informed. The officials from NOTTO quickly allotted the organs as per their waiting list. One kidney was allocated to a patient at Manipal Hospital, Baner, and the other was sent to DY Patil Hospital, Pune. The liver was sent to Shayadri Hospital, Hadapsar, and the heart was sent to MGM Hospital, Chennai. A Green corridor was created on January 6^th, 2024 with the support of Pune traffic police to transfer the heart.

Dr. Amit Dhakoji, Head of Neurosciences, Manipal Hospital, Baner, said, “We continued the mechanical ventilation and medical management to prevent an increase in brain swelling and seizures. On further evaluation, it was revealed that he was suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage (Grade 4). Despite intensive treatment under the care of the neurosurgery and critical care teams, he could not recover and was declared brain dead on January 5^th, 2024.”

Dr. Bhushan Nagarkar, Consultant and Head of Critical Care, Manipal Hospital, Baner, 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 agreed to donate the heart, liver, and kidneys of their patient. The heart, liver, and kidneys were retrieved by the Expert team of doctors and transported for a successful transplantation. The family saved the lives of four patients in critical condition and gave them a new lease of life.”

Dr. Anand Dharaskar, Consultant: Uro-surgeon & Transplant Specialist, and his team performed the kidney transplantation for one at Manipal Hospital, Baner, Pune. Dr. Tarun Jeloka, Consultant Nephrologist and head of Renal Sciences & team supported the team during the entire procedure.

Dr. Sonal Dixit, Regional Head- Medical Service, Manipal Hospital, Baner, said, “The family’s decision to donate organs made a difference in the lives of others. The legacy of the donor will live on through the lives he has saved. Donating one’s organs is a gift of life; it is an opportunity to give someone else a second chance in life. We strongly encourage everyone to think about organ donation and to register as an organ donor. We can save lives if we work together.”

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 15,000 renal transplants are done. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants are needed annually in India, but only about 2000 are performed. Similarly, of several thousand people who suffer from heart failure, only 200 get a heart transplant.

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.

The post First at Manipal Hospital Baner: 55-Year-Old Brain Dead Gives New Lease of Life to Four appeared first on NRI News.

National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) then quickly allotted the organs as per their waiting list. One kidney was allocated to a 29-year-old male patient at `Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, and the other was allocated to a 60-year-old patient at Asian Institute of Medical Science, Faridabad the liver was allocated to a 59-year-old patient at Max Hospital, Dwarka. A green corridor was created on 29^th August at 8:06 AM by Delhi police from HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka to Max Hospital, Vaishali. Both the corneas were also retrieved by the eye bank.

Dr. Anurag Saxena, Head of Neurosurgery, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “After stabilization of his condition an urgent CT scan was done which revealed that he has suffered from a massive brain hemorrhage after which he was put on a ventilator. Despite intensive treatment under the care of Neurosurgery and Critical Care teams, he could not recover and was declared brain dead on 28^th August 2023.”

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 his organs. However, the lungs and heart could not be retrieved as they were unfit for transplantation. The liver and kidney were retrieved by our hospital team and transported for a successful transplantation. The family saved the lives of three patients in critical condition and gave the gift of sight to two others.”

Ms Viji Varghese, Director, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “The family’s decision to donate organs made a difference in the lives of others. The legacy of the donor will live on through the lives he has saved. Donating one’s organs is a gift of life, it is an opportunity to give someone else a second chance in life. We strongly encourage everyone to think about organ donation and to register as an organ donor. We can save lives if we work together.”

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 15,000 renal transplants are done. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants are needed annually in India but only about 2000 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.

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.

The post A Hero’s Last Gift: 58-Year-Old Saves Five Lives with Organ Donation appeared first on NRI News.