Thrilling Moment on a Successful transportation of the cadaver donor liver to its recipient

Allamma

Nursing Supervisor, Kauvery Hospital, Salem

On 26/7/2023, one fine Wednesday early morning, we were informed to reach GKNM Hospital, Coimbatore, for a Cadaver Liver Harvest. We started our journey at 8:30 am from Kauvery Hospital, Salem to Coimbatore in our ambulance, with all required resources, for an organ harvest. Another team travelled from Chennai to Coimbatore with two surgeons, and a staff, who travelled by flight.

We are reached the GKNM hospital, Coimbatore at 11:30am

We were asked to wait outside as the first preference was given to KMCH Hospital. They were already inside the operation theatre and we were waiting. Waiting…

The donor patient was shifted to OT @ 12:45pm. Donor’s abdominal cavity was opened by the KMCH team and preparations started for organ harvest; liver biopsy was sent and the team was waiting for 45mins to get the report. As the first preference was given to them we were thinking that we will not receive the organ for transplant.

But as we were thinking about it, suddenly we were called to scrub and to harvest the organ as the KMCH team was not willing to go ahead with the harvest of the liver . We were very much surprised to hear that, and started organizing our things to shift to the 1st floor OT. We scrubbed for the case and pre- preparation for keeping the harvested organ safely were kept ready.

Procedure started with our team of doctors Dr.. Babu Elangovan and Dr. Sugil. At 5:10 pm cross clamping was done and liver was taken out at 5:45 pm. Then it was perfused with UW solution for 15 minutes. Within this 15 minute of time, ambulance was kept ready in the parking area with necessary requirements.

We started our travel at 6:30pm from Coimbatore, with the help of the traffic police team and officers, the ambulance driver could drive fast and we reached Salem Kauvery around 9.10 pm, it was a very short time of travel.

This was a most thrilling moment I experienced in my life time!!!

Recipient’s Detail

The Liver transplant was a successful one. The organ that we harvested was transplanted to a 43-year-old patient with liver failure. Patient was taken to OT around 8pm. The time of anesthesia given was 8.30pm, as we reached around 9.10pm, Knife time was 9.45pm and the closure time was 9am in the morning, the very next day. Patient was shifted to ICU at 9.45am Patient was kept at ICU for 5days and on the 6th day the patient got discharged and went home.

Donor’s detail

The liver that we harvested was from a 20year old young female. She met with a Road Traffic Accident on 22.07.2023 around 1pm at Dindigul district. It was a collision of a bus to a lorry, patient had multiple fractures, she was immediately taken to a nearest hospital and had undergone Open Reduction Internal Fixation on 22.07.2023. On 24th of July, she had sudden hypovolemic shock, and 6 cycles of CPR was given and the risk of the patient explained toattenders. She was shifted to Coimbatore, GKNM hospital on 25th morning, but on 25/7/2023 at 9pm brain dead was declared. Organ donation counselling was given to her parents, they were very much convinced and were willing for organ donation.

Great Salute to her Parents!!!!!

Ms. Allama

Nursing Supervisor

Thrilling Moment on a Successful transportation of the cadaver donor liver to its recipient