India: Cadaver shortage pushes growth of living donors

[Clark]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Cadaver-shortage-pushes-growth-of-living-donors/articleshow/31073098.cms

Cadaver shortage pushes growth of living donors

When Juhu resident Nikunj Kapadia (67) was advised to undergo a liver transplant at the earliest, he had no option but to enlist his 36-year-old son Munjal as a donor. His other option would have been a liver donation from a cadaveric or brain-dead patient. "But there are too few cadaver donations in the country for liver-failure patients to wait for months or years in hope," said liver transplant surgeon Dr Mohammed Rela, who operated on the duo on February 13 at Global Hospital in Parel.

Unlike kidney-failure patients who can undergo dialysis while waiting for a cadaveric donor, liver-failure patients have few similar options. "Moreover, the earlier a transplant is done, the better," said Dr Rela.

The city has seen an upsurge in the number of liver transplants involving a living donor in 2013-jumping to over a 100 transplants so far. Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in Andheri performed 35 transplants in the last 11 months; 33 of which involved a living donor. "Living donors have to be the focus because there are not enough cadavers available," said Ambani Hospital CEO Dr Ram Narian. "The demand-supply gap is enormous in liver failure. We can promote cadaver transplant, but it may never match the demand," added Dr Narain. The city saw 20 cadaver donations in 2013 while the waiting list is over double.