In a significant setback for organ transplantation efforts in Karnataka, a donated kidney was rendered unusable and ultimately discarded after it sustained damage during the retrieval procedure at a private hospital in Bengaluru. The incident occurred on Tuesday at Manipal Hospital, Yeshwantpur, and directly impacted a patient awaiting a life-saving transplant at a state-run facility.
A Promising Donation Turns Sour
The kidney was intended for a recipient at the government's Institute of Nephro Urology (INU). However, surgeons at INU discovered a minor laceration on the organ upon receipt. Following standard medical protocol, the transplant team informed the intended recipient about the injury. Given the associated risks, the patient declined to proceed with the transplant using the damaged kidney.
"The kidney came to us with a minor laceration. When that is the case, we must inform the patient, and when we did, the patient told us they do not want the organ," explained a surgeon from the INU transplant team. With no possibility for use in transplantation, the organ was sent for medical preservation to the brain museum at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
Official Inquiry Ordered into Rare Incident
The incident has prompted an official review. Dr. Ravishankar Shetty K, the state coordinator for Jeevasarthakathe (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation or SOTTO), confirmed that an inquiry will be conducted. He noted that such injuries during retrieval are extremely uncommon, necessitating a thorough investigation into the circumstances at the host hospital, Manipal Hospital, Yeshwantpur.
"Such injuries occur very rarely during retrieval. Hence, we need to check with the host hospital as to why the injury happened," Dr. Shetty stated. This probe aims to understand the cause of the laceration and to prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring the precious gift of organ donation is not lost.
Amplifying Karnataka's Critical Organ Shortage
This waste of a viable organ underscores the severe and ongoing crisis in organ availability across the state. Currently, there are over 4,700 patients in Karnataka on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Each lost opportunity represents a prolonged wait, increased suffering, and higher medical costs for those in desperate need.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and sensitivities involved in organ retrieval and transplantation. While protocols to ensure patient safety are paramount, the loss highlights the need for impeccable surgical precision at every step of the donation process, from retrieval to transplantation.
