Is it anything more than brutal perversity that the sick citizens of a city itself fighting to preserve its green lungs struggle to find human ones for themselves?
Is it anything more than brutal perversity that the sick citizens of a city itself fighting to preserve its green lungs struggle to find human ones for themselves?
How many Mumbaikars need lung transplant in a year?
According to health experts, every year, more than 100 people need lung transplants in the city. In fact, the state does not have a focussed lung transplant programme, and thus lungs are hard to come by for patients. After the first lung transplant three years ago, the programme failed to become established, forcing end-stage patients to go to the south of the country for treatment.
Which state hospital first transplanted a lung?
In August 2012, PD Hinduja was the only hospital in the state to attempt a lung transplant. The patient, who suffered a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung fibrosis, was left with transplantation as one of the options for leading a normal life. Otherwise, patients have to depend on artificial sources of oxygen throughout life."
What does organ transplantation body say?
Zonal Transplantation Coordination Committee (ZTCC), an organisation that tracks cadaver donations and distributes organs to the patients registered with it, maintains a waiting list of those who need an organ. While ZTCC says it has the organs, it does not keep records of patients who require a lung.
"There is a need to sensitise pulmonologists and cardiac surgeons across the state to the importance of lung transplantation. Awareness needs to be created among people. We have slowly been picking up the cadaver donation programme since 2013. We have the organs. Now surgeons should take the initiative to spread this programme," said Dr Gustad Davar, president, ZTCC.
What does the state need?
According to a state health ministry official, the authorities will be a meeting with all hospitals who have a licence for conducting lung and heart transplantation. They will try and understand the problem and what measures need to take the push up this programme in the state."In our state, we need expertise for lung transplant. In a year, we see a minimum of 25 patients eligible for transplant. But we could not recommend this surgery because we don't have such facilities. Also the cost is very high," said Dr Jaisingh Phadtare, pulmonary medicine, professor, JJ Group of Hospitals.Dr Jalil Parkar, chest physician, Lilavati Hospital, said, "Hospitals should promote lung transplant programme. In a year, we see almost 10 patients in my OPD who need lung transplants. The figure easily crosses 100 for the entire city. If these patients do not undergo the transplant, they have to take in oxygen through a C-PAP machine to breathe."
First twin transplant in state
Recently, 21-year-old Rahul Thakur from Jalgaon underwent a heart-and-lung transplant at Fortis Malar Hospital in Chennai, becoming the first Maharashtrian to undergo a dual transplant at once.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}