According to a recent study, Maharashtra is the third-highest organ donor in the country after Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The given data may emerge as a significant achievement of the state but considering the vast population and severe healthcare conditions, this is surely not enough. According to another estimation, around 5000 patients have registered for a kidney transplant and around 2000 are waiting for a heart and liver transplants.
Considering the need of the hour and with the objective of raising awareness regarding organ transplants, Narayana Health City, Bangalore together with IMA-Nagpur organized a conference in Tuli Imperial, Central Bazar Road, Ramdaspeth, where experts from Narayana Health City, Bangalore Julius Punnen, Senior Consultant – Heart& Lung Transplant Surgeon shared his views and experiences on the topic of Heart Transplant, Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Sinha, Senior Consultant – Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, on the issue of Liver Transplant. Whereas, Dr. Sunil Bhatt, Senior Consultant – PaediatricHemato Oncology, spoke on the issue of Bone Marrow Transplant and Dr. Basha J Khan, Senior Consultant – Pulmonology & Critical care shared his views on the issue of Lung Transplant.
Dr. Julius Punnen, Senior Consultant – Heart& Lung Transplant Surgery, and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Narayana Health City, Bangalore said that “Unlike other organ transplant surgeries heart transplant is considered to be very complex due to various reasons. The heart necessarily has to be from a cadaver donor, more often than not from a distant procurement site.
The organ is taken out, put on ice and transported for a long distance and is transplanted into a recipient who is in severe heart failure in a hostile milieu and is expected to perform in its full capacity meeting the circulatory needs on the recipient. Organ donation rates in the country except in some states is very low and awareness and acceptance of heart transplant as a good therapeutic option for end-stage heart disease is also low leading to non-availability of this excellent therapeutic modality to many people, making the spreading of its awareness of high importanceâ€
Agreeing with the key points raised by Dr. Julius Punnen, Dr Basha J Khan, Senior Consultant – Pulmonology & Critical Care Narayana Health City Bangalore said that “Due to increasing in Air pollution and Cigarette smoking; there is an increase in the incidence of respiratory disease with end-stage respiratory failure. There is an urgent need to tackle air pollution seriously and curb cigarette smoking in society. We at Narayana Health provide comprehensive care for different lung diseases like COPD, Asthma, Airway disorders as well as Lung Transplant. As the saying goes, it’s better to prevent and prepare than to repent and repair.â€
In order to live a healthy life, the prime organs of the body like heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver are supposed to be functioning properly. Only a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of serious disease which can lead even to organ transplants.
Dr Rajiv Ranjan Sinha, Senior Consultant – Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Narayana Health City Bangalore said that,†Liver cirrhosis is one of the major lifestyle diseases which is a matter of concern in the country, once the patient is diagnosed there are a very few chances of the reversal and liver transplant is the only option left. To refrain from such major diseases we all have to obtain healthy lifestyle and food habits and keep an eye on your family history of diseases and go for check-ups accordingly.â€
Getting an organ transplant done doesn’t end the care needed afterward. Sometimes this process involves timely visits to the hospitals which should never be ignored. An organ takes proper care and medication in order to be normal with the functioning of the body, hence proper medication and care prescribed by concerned doctors must be followed sincerely. This should strictly be followed especially in Bone marrow Transplant on which Dr Sunil Bhatt shared details.
Dr Sunil Bhatt, Senior Consultant, Director & Clinical Lead – PaediatricHemato Oncology, Narayana Health City Bangalore said that “Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) also called as Stem Cell transplant is a potentially curative option for many life-threatening conditions; both cancerous and non-cancerous.
Cancerous conditions like leukemia (blood cancer), lymphoma, etc, as well as non-cancerous conditions like thalassemia, aplastic anemia, immunodeficiency etc, can be cured with this treatment modality. Traditionally HLA matched siblings used to be the donors for the BMTs, but now-a-days BMTs can be performed using unrelated as well as half matched (haplo) donors. At Narayana Health City more than 1200 BMTs have been performed till now with excellent results. This is one of the largest centres in India with enormous experience in this techniques including newer advances.â€
With the purpose of sharing knowledge regarding organ transplantation with the doctors of Nagpur and adjacent geographical area an Interactive Scientific session was also conducted in Tuli Imperial, Ramdaspeth, Nagpur after the conference, where these doctors shared their views on the aforesaid subjects.
Apart from giving best healthcare services and treatment to its patients, Narayana Health keeps organizing free health check-up camps and awareness programs as well.