Date:07/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/07/stories/2007060705070600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three get fresh lease of life, vision restored to 2 others

Special Correspondent

`Brain dead' woman's organs donated by her relatives

2 patients get kidneys, one gets liver transplanted

Cadaver transplantation a boon to terminal ailments

HYDERABAD: Thanks to the gesture by relatives of a `brain dead' woman G. Sailaja, in donating her organs, three persons got a new lease of life, while vision was restored to two others.

The recipients of the kidneys and liver were patients suffering from terminal organ failure. While 32-year-old Rohit Kumar, an employee of a travel agency, obtained one kidney in an operation carried out at Kamineni Hospitals, the other kidney was implanted on another person at CARE Hospital.

The complex liver transplantation was performed at Global Hospitals while the cornea were donated to two persons at L. V. Prasad Eye Institute.

Addressing a press conference, the team of doctors which carried out the kidney transplant, called for greater awareness in cadaver transplantation among the people. Dilnawaz Bhiladvala, neurosurgeon, T. K. Saha, nephrologist and others pointed out that many people suffering from terminal ailments could be potential recipients of organs taken from `brain dead' patients.

Dr. Saha said the number of patients with renal failure was increasing enormously and cadaver transplant was the only answer to such cases. Urologist and renal transplant surgeon G. Srinivas said many more patients could get such benefit if relatives came forward like in the case of 20-year-old Sailaja, who was brought to Kamineni on May 20 in a comatose state. Investigation showed a massive brain haemorrhage and her brain function revealed that she was in a state of death.