Mangaluru: Family of brain-dead patient donates organs and tissues at K.S. Hegde hospital

Mangaluru: Family of brain-dead patient donates organs and tissues at K.S. Hegde hospital

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 25, 2025: Justice K.S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, the teaching hospital of K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte, has acknowledged the generosity of the family of late Mr. Subraya Venkataram Bhat (49), a resident of Malgaum in Ankola taluk, Uttara Kannada, who consented to donate his organs and tissues after he was declared brain dead.

Mr. Bhat was admitted to the hospital with a brain haemorrhage and was declared brain dead on August 24, 2025, as per medical protocol. Following counselling by the Jeevasarthaka team, his family members, despite their grief, agreed to the donation.

Under the supervision of treating physicians Dr. Sudheendra U, Dr. Suresh G, Medical Superintendent Dr. Sumalatha Shetty, and Transplant Coordinator Ms. Akshatha Shetty, a team of specialists including anesthesiologists, gastro surgeons, nephrologists, urologists, intensivists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, and orthopaedic surgeons carried out the retrieval procedure.

Both kidneys and corneas were retrieved. While one kidney was initially intended for transplantation at K.S. Hegde Hospital, it was later allocated to A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences (AJIMS) due to medical reasons. The second kidney was allotted to KMC Mangalore. The corneas were preserved for future transplantation.

In addition to organs, the family also consented to donate bones and tendons. Both femur and humerus bones were harvested and stored at the Prof. M. Shantharam Shetty Tissue Bank at K.S. Hegde Hospital. The Achilles tendons, along with bone segments, were also preserved to benefit patients, particularly those with sports-related injuries. This was only the second instance of cadaver bone harvesting in Karnataka, the first having taken place in December 2024 at the same hospital. The donated bones can be stored for more than two decades, providing long-term benefits to patients, especially those battling bone cancer.

Hospital authorities said the act of organ and tissue donation by Mr. Bhat’s family is a remarkable gesture of compassion that will benefit multiple patients and inspire many more families to support organ donation.