Photo Source: Babushahi Network
2.5 lakh patients need Kidney transplants, only 6000 transplants done in India every year: Dr. Sumeet Devgan
India ranks 2nd in Kidney transplants from Live Donors – Dr. Sumeet Devgan
Chandigarh, July 28, 2021: To Create awareness on Chronic Kidney Failure & Kidney Transplant a team of Doctors from Grecian Super Speciality Hospital Mohali, addressed the media person today. Present on the occasion were Dr. Sumeet Devgan Consultant Urologist & Kidney Transplant Surgeon & Dr. Chhaminderjeet Singh Consultant Nephrologist & Renal Transplant, physician Grecian Specialty Hospital, Mohali
Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Sumeet Devgan said, “India ranks 2nd in the world in Kidney transplants from Live Donors as 95% of transplants in India were living donors, whereas only 5% were cadaver (deceased).”
At least more than 5 lakhs of the Indians are dying every year just because of the failure of their major functioning organs anytime. There is an immense need to create more awareness for both the Live & Cadaver Donor Program.
Dr. Devgan also said that the huge discrepancy between the need and supply of organs in our country can be bridged, if organs from accident victims (around 4 lakh) dying every year are made available for transplant.
"Nowadays the other most viable option is Donor Swapping and transplantation from ABO-blood group incompatible donors. Such transplants which were considered high risk in the past are nowadays possible with good short term and acceptable long term results in lieu of efficient immunosuppressive treatment protocols available,” said Dr. Devgan.
Discussing how chronic kidney failure leads to irreversible damage to the kidneys, Dr. Chhaminderjeet Singh said, “Chronic Kidney Failure (CRF) is progressive and irreversible damage to the kidneys (occurring over a long period of time-often many years) could happen mainly because of instead of hypertension, infection, urinary obstruction, stone disease and some inherited abnormalities.
The advanced stage of Chronic Renal Failure (or End-Stage Renal Disease -- ESRD) requires some form of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) like Hemodialysis (filtering the blood off toxins & waste products), Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) or a Transplant. As of now, Kidney Transplant is the best treatment option for any suitable patient with end stage renal disease.”
Elucidating the benefits of a renal transplant to the patient, in the long run, Dr. Chhaminderjeet Said, “Although it appears to be an explosive investment at the outset, kidney transplant is the most economical amongst the three Renal replacement therapy options in long run, and also provides the best quality of life coend-stage that in dialysis or CAPD.
Because of the growing population of Diabetes and Hypertension, each year about 2.5 lakh new patients develop CRF in our country -- but transplant takes place in only about 6000 cases, because of lack of awareness of people and unavailability of the donor.
Besides this Human organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, intestines, corneas, bone marrow, even skin and limbs in certain cases, can be also successfully transplanted into patients in need. With healthy transplanted organs, a patient can survive for years, even, decades. One organ donor can save more than 8 lives in his life by donating his/her well-functioning organs.
Talking about organ donation, Dr. Sumeet Devgan specified, “Generally we are more skeptical about our well-being when somebody is asked to donate one kidney -- we need to understand that donating one kidney does not affect the physical abilities, quality of life, or longevity of a person.
Many cross-sectional observations in persons who have lost one kidney to trauma, infection, or other disease, retrospective analyses, as well as long-term prospective studies have proven the long-term safety of kidney donors. Again the best match for a kidney would be that from a twin (which is rarely available), and better match is that from first-degree relatives in terms of graft take up and long-term out come. Now days, we offer donor’s operation by laparoscopy which is less painful (than open operation), enables faster recovery and early return to work."
On the occasion, Dr. Ashish Chadha Group Chief Operating Officer Grecian Hospital Mohali said – “Kidney transplant procedure needs several legal formalities. As per the law of our country, kidney donation by a medically fit ‘near relative’ (siblings, parents, spouse, or children) entails minimum hassle and also provides best outcome. Donation of the kidney by any person other than ‘near relatives’ requires approval from the respective state govt, and for foreign national permission from the Embassy as well as MEA.
Who can do organ donation
There are two types of Organ donation namely Live Donation or Deceased Donation. Living donors can donate their organ or a part of their organ to someone in need during their life which includes:
- one of the kidneys,
- one of the two lobes of the liver
- a part of/ or one of the lungs.
A deceased donor can donate the organs pledged/ assented to be donated are removed from a dead body as soon as possible which includes:
- heart,
- liver,
- kidneys,
- lungs,
- pancreas,
- eyes and cornea
- small intestine
- tissues including bone tissue, heart valves, tendons, ligaments, veins,
- bones