GMCH facilitates its first-ever organ retrieval

NAGPUR: In the first organ retrieval at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), the organs of a brain-dead patient at the trauma centre were sent to Chennai and Pune on Wednesday morning. It was also the first time that green corridors were created twice in a single day. Two corneas were also harvested by the eye department of GMCH.
Dean Dr A Niswade told TOI that the organ retrieval at GMCH had added a new feather in its cap.“This has set an example to be replicated more often. The trauma centre gets many accident victims who become brain-dead, but no one speaks of organ donation. This was our first effort to convince the relatives of a patient, and it worked,” said the dean.
Subhash Puri, 60, was admitted for about eight days in Neuron Hospital after a head injury. When his condition deteriorated, and he was declared brain-dead, the patient was shifted to GMCH on December 11. His son Swapnil Puri also consented to donate the organs. GMCH doctors contacted Dr Vibhawari Dani and Dr Ravi Wankhede, president and secretary of Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC). The committee got in touch with the SOTTO or State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO).
Since there were no takers for the heart in the state, it was allocated to Chennai’s Fortis Malar Hospital while the liver was allocated to Sahyadri Hospital, Pune. “The kidneys couldn’t be retrieved since they were not functional. Consultant nephrologist Dr SJ Acharya had examined the patient at Neuron. Since it was our first organ retrieval procedure, we learnt many things, like maintaining the patient for two days on ventilator, till the organs could be retrieved,” said Dr Raj Gajbhiye, trauma centre in charge, and professor and head of the surgery department.
The two organs were sent to Chennai and Pune by creating two green corridors at 9.30am and 10.45am. Dr R Mohan and Dr Jagdish’s team from Chennai harvested the heart, and Dr Dinesh Zirpe and Dr Abhijeet Mane from Pune harvested the liver. Both teams arrived in the city on the night of December 12.
A panel comprising Dr Raj Gajbhiye, Dr Naresh Tirpude (anaesthesia), Dr Vrunda Sahashrabhojnee (medicine), Dr Pramod Giri (SSH-neuro-surgeon), Dr P Patnaik (trauma) declared the patient brain-dead. Dr Amol Dhoran, Dr Vidhe Tirpude, Dr Aarti Kirange and senior residents Dr Aadesh and Dr Ashwini coordinated the process.
The intensivists team included Dr Pallavi Sharma, Dr Renuka Kumare, Dr Renuka Joshi and Dr Prassana Phadke. Dr Ajay Keoliya performed the post mortem. ZTCC coordinator Vena Wathore headed the coordination process.
Dr Vaishali Khandait, president, Indian Medical Association, also supported the process. DCP traffic Ravindra Pardesi and PI Jayesh Bhandarkar and PI Shyam Sontakke played a key role in creating green corridor twice.