Deceased Donor Transplant
Deceased Donor Transplant (Cadaveric Donor Transplant): A Life-Saving Procedure
Deceased Donor Transplant, also known as Cadaveric Donor Transplant, involves transplanting an organ or tissue from a deceased individual to a living person in need. This procedure saves lives and is vital for those with organ failure, particularly those needing kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, or intestinal transplants.
A Deceased Donor Transplant happens when an organ comes from a person who has died. The organ is then transplanted into a living patient. The organs are taken from individuals declared brain dead or after cardiac death, as long as they remain viable.
First, doctors check the donor’s organs for suitability. The organs must meet certain criteria such as age, health, and time since death. After confirming suitability, the transplant team removes and preserves the organs. They then transport them to the recipient’s hospital, where the transplant surgery occurs.
For organ donation, eligibility is based on factors like organ function and compatibility between donor and recipient. Donors must meet strict medical standards to ensure the organs are viable for transplantation.
- Consent for Organ Donation: Consent can come from the deceased person, if they have registered, or from family members after death.
- Ethical Guidelines: Medical teams follow strict ethical rules to ensure proper organ retrieval and safe transplantation.
Challenges of Deceased Donor Transplants
- Organ Shortage: There is a shortage of donor organs, resulting in long waiting lists for many patients.
- Organ Rejection: The recipient’s immune system might attack the new organ. To prevent this, patients must take immunosuppressive medications after the transplant.
Deceased donor transplants save lives and improve the quality of life for those with organ failure. However, there is still a high demand for donor organs, so registering to donate is an important way to help.
Organ donation is a selfless act that can provide a second chance at life for patients. It’s especially critical for people in need of kidney, liver, or heart transplants.
Nephrologist, Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee play a vital role in managing patients who need kidney transplants. Early evaluation, careful monitoring, and post-surgery care are key in preventing complications like organ rejection.
Prof (Dr) D Mukherjee is an alumnus of the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune where he did his MBBS & MD (Medicine). Subsequently he went on to do his DM (Nephrology) from PGIMER Chandigarh, which is the foremost training institution for nephrology in India.