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Panel discussion at ISOT 2006, Ahmedabad, seeks solutions for promotion of cadaver organ transplantation in India Ahmedabad, 9th October 2006: The Indian Society for Organ Transplantation had its annual meet, ISOT 2006 in Ahmedabad. In a panel discussion, leading transplant surgeons from across the country got together to deliberate on ways to promote cadaveric (or deceased) organ donation and transplantation in the country. With cadaveric organ donation being as low as 0.05 per million population, education of the public and the medical fraternity was highlighted as the answer. Human-to-human organ transplantation saves and enhances the lives of a number of patients suffering from many forms of end-stage organ failure. Today, transplantation is the leading form of treatment for several debilitating diseases. With this success, however, has come increasing demand for donated organs. Deceased organ donors can donate their organs only after they are declared brain dead. Brain death occurs when the brain is no longer supplied with blood and stops functioning. Without blood, cells in the brain start to die and cannot be replaced. There is no chance of recovery after the brain stops functioning. Ventilating machines in an intensive care unit (ICU) can keep blood flowing to the rest of a brain dead person's body, thereby maintaining their organs. Depending on age and organ function, deceased organ donors can donate their heart, lungs, pancreas, liver and kidneys. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Sunil Shroff (MOHAN Foundation, Chennai) said, "We appreciate the eye donation drive in Gujarat. Donors in Gujarat number between 4000 and 5000 out of the 16000 donations done in the country. The key now lies in focusing on multi-organ retrieval. Furthermore, organs should be treated as a national resource. We need to form a strong Indian network and request Gujarat to join the Indian Network for Organ Sharing facilitated by MOHAN Foundation." Today, human organ transplantation has become the treatment of choice for many end stage diseases. Dr HL Trivedi (Institute Of Kidney Diseases & Research Centre, Ahmedabad), "There is an urgent need for creating a National Transplant Organization which should be run by a select group of committed medical personnel." According to Dr Aarti Vij, (ORBO, New Delhi), "The need of the hour is to increase donors. It is a socio-cultural phenomena and it is yet to become a norm. If this programme is to kick off, we need to create a momentum through extensive public awareness." Dr Mohammed Rela (UK), said, "One of the major issues facing India today, in promoting cadaveric organ donation is that the medical fraternity has to work as a team. Also, infrastructure in hospitals needs to be improved. Public education and team work is the way forward." For details, visit http://www.medindia.net or email [email protected].