Kidneys from brain dead patient transplanted in 2 patients

Puducherry: Organs of a 34-year-old brain dead woman patient have been harvested and transplanted to two patients at the centrally administered JIPMER in coordination with police of neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The woman, M Andal, hailing from Nedungampoondi village in Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil nadu was severely injured in a road accident while riding pillion on a two wheeler on December 5. She was referred to JIPMER where she was declared brain dead.

When informed of the condition of the woman -- a mother of two children - her husband and other relatives expressed willingness to donate her organs to JIPMER and gave written consent for it, a hospital release said.

Despite logistic challenges due to the then squally weather, JIPMER Director Dr S C Parija and Medical Superintendent Dr J Balachander mobilised a medical team. Immediate arrangements were made to harvest her kidneys and these were transplanted on two patients in JIPMER on Dec 7.

The release said her eyes were also harvested and sent to the JIPMER eye bank. The two patients are recovering well in the ICU unit in the hospital, the release said.

It said JIPMER had so far harvested organs and tissues from 20 brain dead patients and transplanted them to needy patients. Andal was the 11th brain dead patient and donor in JIPMER during this year.