THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 15 people who required heart transplant died during the course of waiting period over the last three in the state.
While 15 heart transplants have been carried out since 2012 August, six patients are currently on the wait list. Sources said of the 15 who died during wait period, five could not get donor hearts in time while the remaining died because of worsening medical condition.
At the moment there are 1178 patients on the waiting list for transplantation of various organs including heart in the state.
According to government run programme Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS) – Mrithasanjeevani, the highest wait list is for kidney – 1018 followed by liver 152, heart 6 and pancreas 1. Earlier 15 persons who were awaiting had died including five because of non availability of donor heart and 10 following worsening medical conditions.
Since the launch of the programme in 2012 August at the medical college hospital where the first kidney transplantation was carried out, the KNOS has transplanted 361 organs till date. The highest transplant has been of kidney at 240, liver – 98, heart – 15, pancreas – 1, small intestine – 1, hands from elbow – 4.
Even the number of deceased donors have increased steadily since 2012. While it was 9 in 2012, the number went up to 36 in 2013, 68 in 2014 and 33 till date this year.
At the moment more than 20 centres including public and private are equipped to perform various types of organ transplantation.
There is an effective network connecting various hospitals and medical institutions. One can provide information on donation at the 24 hour helpline number 9048600055.
Organ transplant coordinator Aneesh P V is also available on mail for any information regarding transplant – email id- aneeshknos@gmail.com.
Experts say major issue in organ transplantation is shortage of available organs. Not everyone who needs organ transplantation gets one.
This can be circumvented by promoting deceased organ donation. In addition this helps in generating multiple vital organs (including kidney, liver, pancreas, heart and intestine) as well as tissues (cornea, skin, heart valves, cartilage, tendon and ligaments) from a single deceased donor thereby saving many lives.
