OdishaPlus Bureau
In a first in Odisha’s medical history, multiple organs retrieved from a brain dead patient at the SUM Ultimate Medicare (SUMUM) were rushed to three different cities for transplantation providing a new lease of life to four critical patients.
“Multiple organs including two kidneys, two lungs and the liver were retrieved from P Mohanty, the brain dead patient, with the support and approval of his family along with close coordination of government agencies enabled the organs to be flown to two private hospitals in New Delhi and Kolkata for transplantation”, informs Dr. Swetapadma Dash, Chief Executive Officer SUMUM.
Of the two kidneys, one was transplanted on a waiting patient at SUMUM while another was taken to the S.C.B. Medical College Hospital at Cuttack for transplantation on another patient.
The two lungs were flown to a private hospital at Kolkata to address the critical condition of a 16-year-old boy suffering from paraquat poisoning who endured a challenging 45-day wait for the organs while being supported by ECMO. The liver was transported to another private healthcare facility in New Delhi providing life saving opportunity to another critical patient.
Forty three-year-old Mohanty, who had suffered severe head injury after a fall, had been admitted to SUMUM on June 22 and underwent emergency brain surgery, Dr. Somnath Prasad Jena, Consultant Neurosurgeon at SUMUM said.
“Though his condition somewhat improved following the surgery, it deteriorated subsequently and an Apnea test conducted on June 23 yielded a positive report signifying that the patient was brain dead. A second test was done after six hours which confirmed the earlier report,” Dr. Jena said.
Dr. Dash said when the family members were informed about the patient’s medical status, they offered to donate his organs as it could help to save the lives of others. “It was a momentous decision and we salute Ms. M Mohapatra, wife of the patient, for her bold decision to donate the organs despite being a cultural resistance to such practice in the society,” she said.
Ms. Mohapatra, wife of the deceased, said her husband had earlier wished that his organs should be donated. “We also thought if his organs could help save the lives of four other persons, why not go for it,” she said.
Dr. Dash said the hospital had decided to provide employment to Ms. Mohapatra for her bold and selfless decision. “Her decision is a trendsetter and we have to try for mindset shift in the society as regards organ donation,” she said.
Brig (Dr.) Biraj Mohan Mishra, SUMUM’s Chief of Medical Services, also hailed Ms. Mohapatra’s gesture while thanking her family members for their support in donating the organs.
SUMUM’s team of neurosurgeons and critical care experts, comprising Dr. Jena, Dr. Vithal Rajnala and Dr. Alok Panigrahy, both Critical Care Consultants, played a crucial role in ensuring that the brain dead patient remained in stable condition making him eligible for organ donation, Dr. Prasanta Kumar Panda, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said.