Mangaluru: The organs and tissues of a 49-year-old man from Uttara Kannada district, who was declared brain dead, were retrieved and donated at Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital on August 24.

Patient declared brain dead

The deceased, Subraya Venkataram Bhat, a resident of Ankola taluk, was admitted with bleeding in the brain. Despite medical intervention, he was declared brain dead as per standard medical protocol.

Following counselling by the Jeevasarthaka team, his brother and family members came forward to donate his organs. The decision was facilitated by the coordinated efforts of the treating physicians Dr Sudheendra U and Dr Suresh G, Medical Superintendent Dr Sumalatha Shetty, and Transplant Coordinator Akshatha Shetty.

Organs retrieved and allocated

A team of specialists — including anesthesiologists, gastro surgeons, urologists, nephrologists, intensivists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, and orthopaedic surgeons — carried out the retrieval procedure.

  • Kidneys: Both kidneys were harvested. Initially, one kidney was to be transplanted at KS Hegde Hospital but due to medical reasons in the recipient, it was instead allocated to AJ Institute of Medical Sciences (AJIMS) and KMC Mangaluru, benefitting patients awaiting transplant.
  • Corneas: Retrieved and preserved for future transplantation to restore vision.

Tissues retrieved for future use

In addition to organs, the family also consented to donate bones and tendons, which can help several more patients:

  • Both femur (thigh bones) and humerus (arm bones) were preserved at Prof M Shantharam Shetty Tissue Bank of KS Hegde Hospital at –80°C for future use, especially in bone cancer patients.
  • Both Achilles tendons, along with bone segments, were harvested. These can potentially benefit up to four patients, particularly sportspersons with ACL ligament injuries.

Extending impact across generations

Doctors highlighted that the donated bones can be stored for over 20 years, offering treatment possibilities to patients across generations.

Hospital authorities expressed gratitude to the donor’s family for their decision, which will help transform the lives of multiple patients.