Deceased organ donation in India: where do we go from here?

Transplantation represents one of the best examples of the scientific achievements of medical science. However, its success has also led to some of the fiercest ethical challenges in modern medicine. Partly as a response to the uncovering of a flourishing clandestine kidney trade, the Central government promulgated the Human Organs Transplant Act (HOTA) in 1994. HOTA, along with its amendments, was a step forward in recognising concepts such as brain death. Nevertheless, there are numerous ethical challenges still to be resolved, particularly with regard to consent, incentives to donors and families, and equitable distribution of donated organs.

Pediatric isolated bilateral iliac aneurysm.

Aneurysms are rare in children. Isolated iliac artery aneurysms are very rare, especially bilateral aneurysms. Pediatric aneurysms are usually secondary to connective tissue disorders, arteritis, or mycotic causes. We present a case of a 3-year-old child with bilateral idiopathic common iliac aneurysms that were successfully repaired with autogenous vein grafts.

Management of a challenging arteriovenous malformation of the scalp and orbit in a patient with polycystic kidney disease.

Arteriovenous malformations are notorious for their propensity to bleed, sometimes with fatal consequences. We describe an unusual case of a patient with polycystic kidney disease and with a large arteriovenous malformation involving the orbit and scalp who presented with multiple episodes of profuse bleeding from the upper eyelid and loss of vision in the corresponding eye.

Our experience of application of Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells in critical limb ischemia in six diabetic patients - A five-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Numerous Clinical studies have reported the safety and efficacy of injection of one Marrow and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear cells in patients with lower limb ischemia. Earlier we have reported the six months follow-up of successful application of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells in patients with Fontaine Stage IV critical limb ischemia due to diabetes. As a continuation of the previous study, herein we report the long term results of the six patients after a follow-up for five years. MATERIALS & METHODS: Six Diabetic patients with Fontaine Stage IV critical limb ischemia with ulcers were given intra-lesional injections of their autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC), isolated following the cGMP protocols. The patients have been followed up at regular intervals for five years after the treatment with all relevant clinical investigations. RESULTS: Six months follow-up results revealed that all the patients showed improvements with appearance of healthy granulation tissue and uniform revascularization. Complete healing was reported at a mean duration of nine months in five patients and one patient died due to a complication of renal failure, peritoneal dialysis and cardiac failure, which were unrelated to the BMMNC injection. Five year continuous follow-up revealed that the healed tissue with or without skin grafting remained healthy in all the five patients and two of the patients are able to walk without support with a pain free walking distance of greater than 100m.There were no adverse effects in any of the patients.. CONCLUSION: Autologous bone marrow stem cell therapy has been found to be salvaging the affected limb in patients with Fontaine Stage IV Critical Limb ischemia patients where revascularization was not feasible. Hence with our experience of six patients we recommend that the same should be considered in patients of similar clinical parameters before considering an amputation.