Monday 9 October 2023

How can I donate my organs ! Can you guide me? Dr. Aparna Patil.

 


Friends,





The most important question that arises in  mind is...how to become an organ donor ?

It is very easy !

There are many NGOs, associations  working towards this noble cause. Many people are working on individual levels.One can approach them.


ZTCC (Zonal transplant Co-ordination Centre) is the official body concerned with organ donation.


1) Visit the website of ZTCC.

www.ztccmumbai.org


2)Download the pledge form. 


3)Fill all the details & mail it to the following address...

Sion Hospital,

2nd floor,

College building,

Near medical stores,

Sion (West),

Mumbai-400022

Or 

E-mail:

organtransplant@ztccmumbai.org


4) ZTCC will send you the donor card or you can download the donor card from ZTCC website.




Express your wish for organ donation to family and friends.

Always keep the donor card with you.

Government or doctors can't retrieve organs without consent of near  relatives.


Just mentioning one Sanskrit saying, friends...

" परोपकाराय फलन्ति वृक्षाः

          परोपकाराय वहन्ति नद्यः|

   परोपकाराय दुहन्ति गावः

          परोपकारार्थमिदं शरीरम् ||"

(Trees give us fruits , river flows & give others  life , cows give us milk , in this way...our body must be useful to others....!!!)


Donate organs, friends!!!




© Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil

MD ( Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness

Mumbai.

Thursday 29 July 2021

Eye donation. Dr. Aparna Patil.

 


Give the gift of vision ,A new experience to the blind !!


Eyes....one of the most important sensory organ in our body !

Just to give you brief idea about anatomy of an eye..

Structure of an Eye.
(Photo- Google)


As seen in the figure, cornea is the transparent structure which covers the iris & pupil. This part of the eye is important in eye donation.

In India, we have around 1.5 crore blind people ; of whom around 50 lakhs are blind because of opaque cornea.

Cornea can get injured because of many reasons like....

Chemical burns

Foreign body

Fire crackers

Vitamin A deficiency


Ophthalmic surgeon, from Sangali, Dr. Dilip Patwardhan has explained this in very simple way...the transparent, good windshield of defective car is placed in good car with bad, opaque windshield.

Friends, give the gift of vision..


Who can donate eyes?

Age is no bar.All from 1 year to 80 years old can donate.People with diabetes, previous cataract surgery, with spectacles can also donate.


Who can't donate ?

Eye donation is contraindicated in patients with..

Hepatitis

Jaundice

Tuberculosis

Brain tumor

Meningitis

Active septicemia


How can one help this Noble act?

Friends... discuss your wish for eye donation with your near & dear ones. If the dead person has never mentioned his wish , still the nearby relatives can give consent for donation.All religions have considered this as the noble act.


Some simple steps...

1) Contact eye bank number 1919.

2) Keep two xerox copies of death certificate ready.

3) Cover eyes with cotton soaked in water.

4) Put off the fan ; if possible, switch on the air conditioner.

5) Keep head elevated by keeping two pillows underneath head.


Most important to know that,  eyes  donation is  permitted  within 6 hours of death.

The medical team from an eye bank usually take maximum 20 to 39 minutes. There is no disfigurement of face , also no bleeding.

Friends, just imagine, how helpless, depressed you will feel...if there is sudden loss of your eyesight ! Complete darkness around you ! Not able to enjoy the beautiful world around you! Eyes are the precious gift to mankind. A wise man utilizes the gift while alive & even after death.


Let's all pledge to donate our eyes & other organs ! Let's leave back our vision !



©Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil

MD ( Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness

Mumbai.

What is an Organ? History of organ donation.Dr.Aparna Patil.


Sant Tukaram Maharaj has said it very correctly, 

        "| वृक्षवल्ली आम्हां सोयरे वनचरे |"



Trees are givers of life. We have to be like them.
Friends,  let's be like trees ...giver of life......donate organs !!



What is an Organ?

Our body is just like a machine. It works with the help of various parts.....organs!! Our body is amalgamation of different organs, which work synchronously to keep us healthy.


Various organs are...

      Lungs 

      Liver

      Heart

      Pancreas

      Kidneys

      Bones

      Skin.....etc.


History of organ donation...

If we consider history of organ donation, more accounts of early transplants are seen in Rome & China. In India, account of famous Sushruta is seen. He used skin graft in nose reconstruction. However, the success or failure of these procedures is not well documented.


By 1900, the idea...that one can successfully treat internal diseases, by replacing a failed organ through transplantation had been generally accepted. Pioneering work was made by French Surgeon, Allexis Carrel & later he won Nobel prize for his work.

First heart transplantation took place in South Africa in 1967. Patient survived for 18 days.

First  successful  heart transplantation took place in 1981 in Stanford University.

In Mumbai, first kidney transplantation took place in Sion hospital on 27 th March, 1997. Hence, 27th March is celebrated as organ donation day in Mumbai.











© Dr. Aparna V. Patil.

MD( Obstetrics & gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness.

Mumbai.



What is body donation? How it is different from organ donation? Dr. Aparna Patil.

 Very correctly said by Honorable Ratan Tata ,

"There is a lot of difference between  human being & being human. Very few understand it."


                      (Photo - Google) 

Friends ,

Be kind!

Recycle yourself !

Live after death ,

Donate organs !!


Organ donation & body donation are  totally different. 

In organ donation, organs are retrieved & then transplanted in other patients , suffering from end stage diseases. The dead body is then handed over to the relatives for last rites.

In body donation, whole body is donated after death. It is then used for teaching medical students, research in medical colleges. 

Anatomy is the base of medical education. Medical students gain knowledge about structure of the body, abnormalities during dissection of dead body. In the dissection hall, dead is teaching ; cadaver is the best teacher for medical education. It is also used for training post graduate doctors like neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, ENT surgeons, transplant surgeons, spine surgeons & so on. Workshops , hands on training, pain management using various blocks, transplant training, prosthesis preparation are conducted  on cadavers. 

In today's digital world, videos, virtual dissections, audiovisuals,animation are available but  practical knowledge from dead body is extremely important. Anatomy act allows medical students to learn on unclaimed  dead bodies if  not claimed within certain stipulated time period. Medical students are administered Cadaveric oath which ensures respect to cadaver; no shares on social media, sincere use of material & knowledge. 

Voluntary body donation is very important. 

Now, the most important question that comes to our mind is.. What is the exact procedure? 

1) The person who wishes body donation must express his or her wish to nearest family members. 

2) The person & or relatives  visit the anatomy department of the medical college attached to the Municipal Or Government hospital  in your city. And fill the body donation form. 

For example.. KEM hospital, JJ hospital, Rajiv Gandhi hospital at Kalva. These hospitals have body donation committee which includes dean of medical college,  head of the Anatomy department &  social workers. Social workers guide about the procedure, requirements, etc. 

Body donation form is signed by potential donor & two first degree relatives. Their photos, Identity proofs, contact numbers are also collected. 

3)  The person is given the body donation card which includes all the details of ambulance, hearse  van, contact details of the person to be contacted in the event of death. 

Please note that, transport charges of the body to the medical college has to be borne by family members. I personally feel that this should be shared by the Government. 


If the potential donor & the relatives have followed this then in actual time of the event, it is not difficult task for the family.  Family is well aware of the process & can follow those steps to fulfill the last wish of their beloved person. 

Friends, death certificate is mandatory. Please understand that it is not mandatory for Institute to accept the body. The body donation  takes place in case of natural death. 

Body is not accepted in following conditions... 

1) Bedsores

2) Septicaemia

3) Decomposed body

4) Mutilated body

5) Autopsied body

6) Overweight body

7) presence of cancer 

8) Death due to communicable disease

9) poisoning, hanging or death involving medicolegal angle.

 When the body is received by the department, two minutes honour is given to the donor. The  body donation certificate is awarded to the relatives so that they can notify the death in Municipality. 


        Friends, I wish to insist that filling the body donation form is not compulsory but expressing your wish for body donation is of utmost importance. Without consent of the family, it is impossible. Family members must understand the process beforehand so that it becomes very easy to fulfill wish of your loved one




©Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil

MD ( Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness in Marathi & English

Mumbai.

What is Brain Stem Death? Dr. Aparna Patil.

 

What is Brain stem death?


This is the most important topic in Organ Donation Awareness.Brain dead patient can give life to at least 7 to 9 individuals.Brain stem death or brain death or neurological death is not well understood by many people. They tend to confuse it with coma


There is difference between comatose patient & brain dead individual.


 Comatose patient.....

• is not dead.

• can regain consciousness.

• may respond to deep stimuli.

• has respiration on his / her own.


Brain death means death.

• Patient is dead.

• no chance of regaining consciousness.

• no response to deep stimuli.

• Respiration is aided by ventilator.


"Brain death is an irreversible death."


How does the BS death occur?

Brain stem is associated with important functions of respiration and consciousness.


If any form of head injury or major stroke or brain tumour

⬇️

Leads to brain edema or swelling

⬇️

Skull is hard bone...does not allow brain to expand.

⬇️

Medicines tried to reduce swelling, but if no success.

⬇️

Pressure on brain vessels starts rising...a stage comes when  this pressure exceeds the pressure in the blood vessels of beating heart.

⬇️

Heart can't force oxygenated blood  into the brain.

⬇️

No blood supply to brain

⬇️

Brain cells die & undergo lysis ie. liquification

⬇️

That is why, brain death is irreversible. Once BS die, person stops breathing

⬇️

No oxygen supply to heart.

⬇️

All vital organs are devoid of oxygen....their function stop.


So ,how it is possible for brain dead patient to donate vital organs?

Friends, patient is  on ventilator during his treatment, to help him breath.  The working of heart is independent of brain. It has its own pacemaker... SA node. As long as heart is getting oxygen (from ventilator ) , it will continue to beat...for some period of time...maybe for few hours or sometimes even for a week and then die. As the blood supply to the organs can be maintained , during this period, the organs can be retrieved after relative's consent. This death can occur only in intensive care unit i.e. ICU.


How is brain death declared?

Brain death is declared by brain death committee.Many tests like... are carried out at the interval of 6 hours.


Brain stem death is an irreversible death. No one has ever woken up from brain death. BD  has nothing to do with mercy killing; organs are never taken at the cost of donors life. First aim of the doctors is to treat the patient upto their  best level... using all skill, expertise but once patient is declared brain dead, patient can't be revived... but we can help other patients to gain new life.


In this situation, a question arises...what the family should do?  

Should the family wait till heart stops beating & all organs die or they should consider organ donation & save others life?

Emotionally, it is very difficult  for the family who have lost their loved one & every family should do what they feel is right....there is absolutely no force or compulsion on the family to donate organs!


This is why Organ donation awareness is extremely important. It should not be a new concept but each & every Indian citizen should be aware of it.

We have already lost our beloved one but just imagine , our dear one is going to live in this world in the form of organs...giving life to someone else......


Friends,




© Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil 

MD ( Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness.

Mumbai.

How are the donated organs distributed? Dr. Aparna Patil.

 


" कभी कभी रिश्तों की कीमत , वो लोग समझा देते है,

   जिनसे हमारा कोई रिश्ता नहीं होता.....!!! "


Many questions may arise in your mind like....

If I want to donate my organs, how the organs are distributed?

Whether they will be given to some rich person or to a person of specific religion ???


Friends.... please note that 

Many factors like ,

Age of patient 

Blood group 

Severity of the disease 

Waiting period 

Clinical status of the recipient

are taken into consideration. The priority score is given to the patient & then the organs are given to the most needy & suitable patients. 

Money , race , religion, status are not  considered. Everything is absolutely transparent.


In India, The Human Organ Transplantation Act, passed in 1994 mainly takes into consideration following fields...

1) It recognises brain stem death.

2) It regulates retrieval , storage & transplantation of organs.

3) It prevents commercial dealings in Human Organs.


" No Human organ can be bought or sold."


All religions in India have  considered it as a noble act. It is a pure donation. No compensation or payments are made to the donor family. The family is not charged for any investigations after the consent for organ donation is given.


Friends...

" Realise that nothing can give more happiness than a selfless act done for others !!! "


Today, Organ donation is a need of  the hour. Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness,it is very limited.








©Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil

MD (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

Organ donation awareness

Mumbai.

Green corridor. Dr. Aparna Patil.

 

Friends.....

Green corridor refers to a route that is cleared out for an ambulance , carrying the harvested organs - to ensure its delivery at the point of destination in shortest time possible. 


Green Corridor for Organ donation


  The time between harvest & transplant of organ plays an important role in success of a transplantation. Organ transportation is a critical factor. For this purpose Green corridors have been created in India.

The name green corridor was given in July 2014, when the hospital & police in Chennai co ordinated to transport a heart from one hospital to another in half the regular time. An ambulance carried a heart to save  the life  & covered a distance of 12 kms in just 14 minutes, from Chennai government General hospital to Fortis Malhar hospitals in Adyar, otherwise the time taken would have been more than 45 minutes.


Many authorities like,

• Hospitals involved in transplantation

• City traffic authorities

• Airport authorities

come in action to transport an organ from one hospital to another.

            



Usually the transportation is by road but air ambulances are also used when transportation to different cities or states is involved.


Green corridor is generally used for transportation of vital organs like kidneys, liver,heart. Heart has preservation time of 4-6 hrs ; Liver 12-15 hrs.....so for example ,for heart, we have precious 4 hours between harvesting & transplant in which transfer must happen.


It is a complex process which requires high level of coordination at multiple levels.


This system was first devised to handle medical emergencies, it is widely used in organ donation. It has helped save lives in various cities in India. Surat has become the first city in India to have incorporated the system of black & white notification & make sure that no time is wasted in creating a green corridor.


Green corridor is a special route, such that all traffic signals that come in the route of hospital where an organ is harvested & the hospital where it is to be transplanted ,are green & controlled manually ; thereby speeding up travel time by several minutes that are crucial & important to save someone's life.


Green corridor thus makes sure that there is no organ wastage.




© Dr. Aparna Viraj Patil

MD(Obstetrics and Gynaecology )

Organ donation awareness

Mumbai.