Jalandhar Military Hospital retrieves organs from brain dead patient for transplant

For the first time in the history of Vajra Corps and any zonal military hospital in the western command, a team from the Military Hospital in Jalandhar carried out organ retrieval from a brain dead patient, a mother of a serving soldier who suffered from massive brain stroke.

The patient underwent decompressive hemicraniectomy, but could not survive the ordeal. The brave son and family members agreed to donate viable organs to give life to needy patients. A team comprising doctors from Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi, led by Col Priyaranjan and Military Hospital, Jalandhar led by Brig KK Ashta, Commandant, and supported by Col Anirban Gupta, Senior Registrar, Col Vijay Singh Kanyal, HOD surgery, and Col Puneet Aggarwal, urologist, Lt Col Mohini, opthalmologist and Lt Col Nimish Gaur, Lt Col Ravikant Nair and Lt Col Amit Kamewad, carried out harvesting of organs (both kidneys and both corneas).

A rare accomplishment in any zonal hospital of the Indian Army was made possible by the surgeons and anaesthetists of MH Jalandhar and Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi. A green corridor was created by the civil and police administration from Air Force Station, Adampur, to Military Hospital, Jalandhar and back. Officiating GOC, 91 Sub Area, Brig SK Saul and the Military Hospital Jalandhar team thanked the family for this great and noble act, setting an example for others to do the same to save more lives. The organs retrieved will be transplanted to serving soldiers and their dependents at the Army Hospital (R&R).

With his efforts, Brig KK Ashta and his team have got Military Hospital Jalandhar recognised as a centre for declaration of brain death and organising harvesting for the purpose of organ transplantation from the Punjab government health authorities in October last year.