Dr. Sonal Asthana, Consultant, Multi Organ Transplant Surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals, said,” The patient had been unwell for 2-3 years primarily with increased tiredness and weight loss. He had lost almost 20 kg in one year. He had also developed jaundice since Dec 2013. He was being followed up in local hospital in Panjim, under Dr Filipe Alvarez, and had been admitted multiple times because of his illness. He works as a chartered accountant and has a young family with a wife and 2 daughters. Dr Alvarez made the diagnosis of chronic liver disease and assessed that he needed an urgent liver transplant. He then contacted the Global Integrated Liver care team at BGS Global Hospitals Bangalore. We have created accessibility for patients in Goa, by conducting a monthly clinic for the past 2 years. The patient was first evaluated in Goa and completed all his initial testing here. His wife had come forward as a potential donor, but was from a different blood group. They were being considered for a swap liver transplant, but he was quite sick and time was running out.”
He further adds, “Fortunately for him, a suitable organ of the same blood group became available in time. The family of a 45-year-old man, who had sustained fatal injuries in an accident and had become brain death, came forward to donate his organs in their time of grief. The liver was a perfect match for Mr Girish. The transplant operation took 7 hours. The patient was then shifted to the ICU for 5 days, and was discharged from the hospital in three weeks. He has gone on to make a full recovery and has gone back to work, just one month after his transplant. The family who found themselves facing the tragedy of losing a loved one, decided to rise above their personal loss and offer their organs for donation. There is a need for measures to improve donation rates, such as public awareness campaigns so that more people like Mr Girish can lead full and normal lives. “
Dr. Filip Alvares, Consultant, Gastroenterologist, Goa, said, “This 48 year old gentleman was under my follow up for the past 6 months, and it was apparent that he needed a liver transplant to survive. We have been working in close co-ordination with the Global Integrated Liver care team at BGS Global Hospitals Bangalore to provide ongoing care for Goan patients with liver and pancreatic problems. Such patients require optimization before the procedure, counseling as well as long term care in coordination with several specialists. Because of these reasons, patients from Goa usually have to travel outside and wait for long periods of time for the management of liver disease. The new principle of co-management benefits our patients, as they can complete the preoperative tests and evaluation here in Goa, and only have to travel outside for the procedure itself. They can also be followed up closely here according to accepted national and international protocols in close co-ordination with the transplant center.”
Mr. Girish, Organ Transplant Recipient, said, “With end stage liver disease, I was battling for my life. I would like to thank the organ donor’s family and then the specialists, who have restored my hope and given me a new lease of life.”
source : Lokesh Shastri