On February 24, 2024, MOHAN Foundation organised a masterclass on “'Retrieval Process in Multi-Organ Deceased Donation," a workshop in collaboration with the Network and Alliance of Transplant Coordinators (NATCO), for its employees and NATCO members. The SBI Foundation provided support for the workshop.

 

The objective of the masterclass was to provide attendees with knowledge regarding the sequence of retrieval of thoracic and abdominal organs and the logistics of packing, transportation, and transplantation. Dr. Sunil Shroff, Founder and Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation, Senior Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, Madras Medical Mission, Asia Coordinator, Commonwealth Tribute to Life, and Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Lung Transplant Medanta: The Medicity, were invited experts for the session.

 

Ms. Priti Jain, Joint Secretary, NATCO, invited speakers and participants to the masterclass.

 

Masterclass began with a poll to understand participants knowledge regarding the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) 1994, consent forms for paediatric deceased donors, and brain death declaration forms.

 

Dr. Sunil Shroff explained the following topics in detail:

• Organ donation after brain death

• Kidney transplant surgery

• Required checks for the surgical team in charge

• Choice of incision

• 10 key Steps for Abdominal Organs

• Ischemia time (warm and cold)

• Order for removal of organs and tissues

• Inspection of organs

• Video of the cadaver kidney retrieval process

• Packing of organs

• Inter-hospital coordination

• When organs are offered to other hospitals, what common information will be required?

• Standard forms to enter organ details

• Documents for transport

 

Dr. Arvind Kumar explained the following topics in detail:

• Statistics of deceased organ donors

• Ischemia time

• Organ preservation time

• The process of organ donation

• Size matching

• Role of Transplant Coordinators

• Donor optimisation

• Process in donor hospital to follow for removal of organs

• Surgical procedure for organ removal

• Preservation of organs and transportation

 

The participants posted the following queries, to name a few:

• In the operation theatre, who coordinates the organ retrieval process?

• Is there any strict rule that kidneys should be harvested before livers?

• Is it possible to include the organ transplant subject with its importance and India’s present status to raise awareness in the community through medical professionals?

 

A total of 67 participants attended the session.