Organs successfully retrieved for first time at Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru

The liver of 41-year-old P. Rekha was sent in an ambulance at 12.30 p.m. with ‘zero traffic’ to BGS Apollo Hospital in Mysuru. Her cornea was sent to KMC Hospital at Attavar in Mangaluru.

A team of doctors and nursing staff of Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru successfully retrieved the liver and cornea of a brain-dead woman from Shivamogga and sent them to private hospitals for harvesting for needy patients.

The liver of 41-year-old P. Rekha was sent in an ambulance at 12.30 p.m. with ‘zero traffic’ to BGS Apollo Hospital in Mysuru. Her cornea was sent to KMC Hospital at Attavar in Mangaluru.

Intensivist Meghana Madi said Rekha’s condition was bad when she was brought to the Wenlock hospital on January 6 after treatment at a private hospital in Shivamogga following ‘Cerebro vascular accident’.

Ms. Rekha’s brother P. Sheshadri said his sister collapsed outside their house in Shivamogga. After initial treatment at the private hospital, they brought her to Wenlock for advanced treatment. “As her condition started to deteriorate further, organ transplant coordinator Padma convinced us to donate her organs. We want my sister to stay alive in the lives of the (organ) receivers,” Mr. Sheshadri said.

Following consent from the family, a team of organ retrieval specialists from BGS Apollo came to Wenlock hospital on January 8, and the first ‘brain dead’ confirmatory test was done. The ICU team led by Dr. Meghana worked hard to ensure the organs were in viable condition till completion of organ retrieval process at 11 a.m. on January 10.

The ICU team comprised post-gradate doctors Madhur Mundra, Tarun Gupta and Santosh Krishna, and nurses Geeta, Ramya, Anita, Vijayakumar, Pratima, Vanita, Shakuntala, Chetana and Sumati.

Wenlock Hospital Superintendent D.S. Shivaprakash said this was the first time that organs were retrieved at the 170-year-old government hospital. Few weeks ago, the hospital was not successful in retrieving organs on time. “The successful retrieval of organs this time will inspire other donors to donate organs,” Dr. Shivaprakash said.