Indian Transplant Newsletter. Vol.19 Issue No.59. March 2020 - June 2020
Print ISSN 0972 - 1568

Organ transplants restart amidst COVID-19 in Pune

Indian Transplant Newsletter.
Vol.19 Issue No.59. March 2020 - June 2020
Print ISSN 0972 - 1568
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Transplant teams across the country have restarted transplantation looking at the plight of patients waiting for the surgery to take place. In Sahyadri Hospital, Pune eight patients passed away in the first phase of COVID-19 lockdown in India while waiting for over two months for a transplant. Dr. Bipin B. Vibhute, Programme Director, Liver and Multiorgan transplantation at Sahyadri Hospital said his team carried out the first deceased donor liver transplant in the second week of May 2020. They successfully carried out the transplant surgery taking all necessary precautions and putting systems in place. The transplant team was smaller – just about six of them in place of over 10 including the transplant surgeons and the anaesthetist. Even the nurses chosen for the duty at the theatre were the ones who were not exposed to any COVID-19 patient before. Both the donor and recipient were tested for COVID-19 and a CT scan and X-ray of the chest were done.

There were three deceased donors and two deceased donors in May and June 2020 respectively in Pune. Mrs. Arati Gokhale, Central Coordinator, Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), Pune said that they ensured the transplant option was offered to patients who were residing in and around Pune so that they did not have to travel far in these difficult circumstances.


To cite : Shroff S, Navin S. Organ transplants restart amidst COVID-19 in Pune. Indian Transplant Newsletter. Vol.19 Issue No.59. March 2020 - June 2020 .
Available at:
https://www.itnnews.co.in/indian-transplant-newsletter/issue59/Organ-transplants-restart-amidst-COVID-19-in-Pune-1035.htm

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