Heart beats strong: State ranks 2nd in transplants

Karnataka performs 35 organ transplants, outpacing Maharashtra and Gujarat, backed by robust healthcare and strong donor consent guidelines

Karnataka stands as the second leading state in heart transplants, with a total of 35 procedures performed. This places Karnataka ahead of other major states such as Maharashtra, which has conducted 33 transplants, and Gujarat, with 29. Karnataka’s achievement in performing a significant number of heart transplants highlights the state’s advanced healthcare infrastructure and commitment to providing critical medical care. By surpassing states like Telangana (15 transplants) and Delhi NCR (14 transplants), Karnataka demonstrates its role as a key player in organ transplantation in India, ranking second after Tamil Nadu, which leads with 70 transplants.

An official said, “Organ donation can be classified into two main types: living organ donation and deceased organ donation. In living organ donation, individuals over the age of 18 can voluntarily donate organs for therapeutic purposes within the bounds of the law. This type of donation typically involves donating one kidney (as the other kidney can still maintain the body’s functions) or a part of the liver, which can regenerate after a period.”

Deceased organ donation, on the other hand, allows individuals to donate multiple organs and tissues after brain stem or cardiac death, regardless of their age. The process requires consent from a near relative or someone lawfully in possession of the body is required. If the deceased donor is under 18, a parent or an authorised relative must provide consent. The organs and tissues that can be donated include the lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, small intestine, cornea, skin, heart valves, bone, cartilage, and ligaments. It is crucial to transplant these organs as quickly as possible for optimal outcomes, often transporting them from retrieval centres to transplant hospitals using preservative solutions to maintain organ viability and ensure successful transplants.

Brain stem death (BDS) occurs when the brain stem, responsible for controlling consciousness and breathing, irreversibly ceases to function. Unlike coma, where a patient is unconscious but may wake up and breathe spontaneously, brain-dead patients have no chance of regaining consciousness or breathing on their own. During this period, organs can be retrieved with consent from close relatives. Living organ donation includes several types of donors: near-related donors (such as spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren), altruistic donors (unrelated individuals), and swap donors (paired exchange).

Human organs cannot be bought or sold. Individuals interested in pledging their organs can sign up as a donor—Official

The timeframe for transplanting organs varies, with hearts requiring 4-6 hours, lungs 4-8 hours, intestines 6-10 hours, liver 12-15 hours, pancreas 12-14 hours, and kidneys 24-48 hours. Transplants can treat several end-stage diseases, including heart, lung, kidney, and liver failure; corneal blindness; valvular heart disease; severe burns; and traumatic amputation of hands (hand transplants). Organ retrieval is conducted in an operating theater, with no disfigurement, as the body is carefully sutured after the procedure, similar to any other surgery. “It is important to note that human organs cannot be bought or sold. Individuals interested in pledging their organs can do so by signing up as a donor at www.notto.mohfw.gov.in”, an official added.