Organs Of 10 Year Old Brain Dead Boy Save Four Lives In Mumbai

Two children suffering from end-stage kidney disease received a fresh lease of life after parents of a boy who was declared brain dead agreed to donate both his kidneys for organ transplant. The 10 year old boy was from Vile Parle, Mumbai. His family donated his organs after he was declared brain dead, to save the lives of four patients, including the two children suffering, aged 12 and 15, who were battling with chronic kidney failure for years. While the 12 year old boy was on dialysis for four years now, the 15 year old girl was waitlisted for a kidney transplant since 2012.

The boy's family donated his heart, liver, kidneys and cornea at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in Andheri, Mumbai. His identity has not been revealed at the family's request, said Kokilaben Hospital's transplant coordinator Dr Rekha Barot.

He was under treatment for some time now. The boy was admitted to Surya Hospital in Santacruz, where a CT scan showed a massive intracranial bleed. When the family was told that he was brain dead, a family member enquired if his organs could be donated. As Surya Hospital is not a registered organ donation centre, the Zonal Transplant Coordination Center (ZTCC), a body which coordinates distribution of cadaveric organs, asked for the 10 year old to be taken to Kokilaben Hospital.

According to ZTCC, the boy’s heart was sent to Fortis Hospital for a 25 year old woman who suffered heart failure after childbirth. The liver was transplanted into a 43 year old man at Kokilaben Hospital. One kidney was transplanted into the 15 year old girl while the second was transplanted into the 12 year old boy both of whom were registered at Jaslok Hospital.

Fortis Hospital heart surgeon Dr Anvay Mulay said, "It's heartening to see a young boy save so many patients with end-stage organ failure. I salute his family as their act of bravery has given a new life to many."

While Mumbai was the first city to start cadaveric donation in 1997, it presently lags behind Chennai. However, organ donations in the last two years have been heartening, said ZTCC officials. While 2014 saw 41 cadaveric donors, the number stood at 42 in 2015. This is the 34th cadaveric organ donation in the city this year, one of the highest recorded in such a short span. According to ZTCC, there have been 56 kidney transplants, 32 liver and 18 heart transplants from patients who suffered a brain stem death. There, however, have been very few pediatric brain stem deaths that have been recorded which has led to a long wait list for children in need of organs.

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According to experts, it is usually recommended to transplant only a pediatric organ into a pediatric recipient. “We more often see adult brain stem deaths due to head injuries and road accidents. Death of children due to this is very rare. That’s the reason why children in need of organ have to wait a longer period,” said Dr Tarang Gianchandani, CEO at Jaslok Hospital, where both the children underwent the kidney transplant surgery. Currently, both the children are under observation and stable. “An organ from a child will better suit another child. We avoid adult organs to be transplanted into kids,” Gianchandani added.

Source-Medindia