Brain-dead man’s kidney saves Solapur farmer’s life

Mumbai: In the first organ transplant in a tier-III city in Maharashtra, a 24-year-old brain-dead man’s kidney was successfully transplanted into a 28-year-old Solapur farmer at the privately-run Ashwini Rural

Medical College, Kumbhari, early on Sunday morning. Until now, transplants have been performed either in Mumbai, Pune or Nashik.

The zonal transplant coordination committee (ZTCC) gave direction regarding harvesting of vital organs, and the donor’s kidneys and liver were retrieved at the state-run Sassoon Hospital in Pune. One kidney was donated to the Solapur farmer while the other kidney and liver were taken to the privately-run Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune.

Nephrologist Dr Sandip Holkar, who performed the transplant at Solapur, told The Asian Age, “We got the green signal from the family at the hospital and without wasting a single minute, we reached Pune. The donor’s kidney was harvested at midnight. The distance was 240 km and was covered in three hours.”

Dr Holkar added: “We still have taboos and myths regarding organ donation of brain-dead patients. In this case, his wife was ready but the family was reluctant about heart donation.”

Priya Pawar-Kumbhkone, zonal transplant coordinator, Solapur, said, “This is the first cadaver transplant in Solapur. This is a benchmark and will make people come forward for organ donation.”

The donor, who hails from Vaibhavwadi in Sindhudurg district, married six months ago and was living in Mumbai for work since the past few years. Two days ago, while getting off a running train at Lonavala, he lost balance and suffered grievous head injuries. After being initially treated at a local hospital, he was later shifted to Sassoon Hospital, where he was declared brain-dead. However, the donor’s heart could not be harvested since his family, which initially agreed to the donation, expressed unwillingness later.

However, the heart of the donor could not be harvested since his family, which initially agreed to the donation, expressed unwillingness.

In total, Maharashtra saw 52 kidney donations, 80 liver donations, 52 heart donations and one lung donation since January this year.