[ad_1]
Between March and August, total organ donations were 37, unlike the same period in 2019 when they reached 96. During the months of the pandemic, 79 transplants were performed, while in the same period in 2019, 272 were performed. After months of decline, in September the clinics are resuming normal transplant activity, with all the safety protocols to protect the health of both patients and staff.
This Sunday, September 27, the National Organ Donor Day is commemorated, a date that aims to educate and promote the decision to be a donor in the population, since despite the fact that the new Organ Donation Law indicates that everyone older than 18 years deceased is considered a possible donor, unless in life he has expressly declared not to want to be, the family may also object to donating their organs.
This year the issue takes on special relevance, since as a result of the health crisis, organ donations have fallen by 61.5% between March and August, compared to the same period last year according to figures from the Ministry of Health. In total, during these months, there were 37 organ donations, while between March and August of last year there were 96.
Transplants have also decreased. During these months, 79 transplants have been performed, compared to the 272 performed last year in the same period.
“There was a very important drop in transplants during the pandemic. The health system was busy at maximum capacity treating patients with COVID-19, but at the same time safeguards had to be taken regarding being sure that both donors and recipients were not infected with coronavirus. On the other hand, transplant patients receive immunosuppressive treatment, which is why they have a high risk of complications if they acquire COVID-19. Therefore, during the first months of the pandemic, the activity of transplants was logically very diminished and, progressively as the months passed, we learned how to handle the situation. In addition, the health system has been vacating and activities have been resumed, both in organ donation and transplants, but we continue at a much lower rate than in previous years ”, explains Dr. Javier Chapochnick, chief physician of the Program of Transplantation of Abdominal Organs of the Center for Transplantation and Chronic Diseases of Clínica Santa María.
The health crisis has changed the way various procedures are performed and has generated new, even more stringent protocols to address patient care. Transplant centers throughout the country have also adopted measures to confront the pandemic and carry out these highly complex interventions safely, as required by the health authority.
“As a clinic we have been exposed to the difficulties of the pandemic. Our transplant team began observing the transplant programs at the national and global level, and once we saw the decrease in cases and the possibility of access to hospital beds, we restarted our programs with modifications focused on reducing the risk of contagion. As a rule, we must use protection elements, opt for telemedicine and apply other security measures, ”explains Dr. Andrés Boltansky, head of the Dávila Clinic Transplant Center.
The measures that have been adopted at Clínica Santa María and Clínica Dávila include:
– PCR test for donors, recipients and collaborators.
– Verify the absence of Covid-19 in the patient, in addition, through a scanner.
– Use of personal protection elements.
– Pavilions with negative pressure: This type of technology is used to contain airborne pollutants inside a room, such as viruses, bacteria, gases, among others, guaranteeing safer spaces to protect patients and health workers .
– Isolation of patients from the critical care unit.
– Telemedicine, which consists of virtual consultations, in which the patient can receive an evaluation from home to avoid travel and contact with other people after discharge.
– Between March and September of this year, 14 transplants have been performed at the Santa María Clinic (double lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, kidney) and 16 at the Dávila Clinic (kidney and liver).
“A few weeks ago we have been transplanting in a normal way, obviously implementing the COVID-19 protection protocols that is part of our daily work. Currently, the transplant programs of the Santa María Clinic are working normally for all patients who require organ transplantation in any of our programs, ”says the chief physician of the institution’s Abdominal Transplant Program.
In this sense, a few days ago a 19-year-old young man, Vicente Nuñez Miranda, who came from the public system to the Santa María Clinic with fulminant hepatitis, was transplanted with a liver.
His mother, Marcela Miranda, says that, thanks to the work of the clinic’s professionals, Vicente is in excellent condition and that a few days ago he was fortunate to turn 20 and celebrate them as a family. “We are very grateful for all the love, work, dedication of the team of nurses, doctors, administrators, the Blood Bank and all those who accompanied us. It is something that we had never had to experience. They took care of us with great empathy and affection ”, he says.
Another case is that of Luis Salinas (56), who was transplanted at the Dávila Clinic during the pandemic due to kidney failure. In 2002 Luis learned that he had polycystic kidneys, so he lived for 18 years with special treatments and care before receiving the kidney transplant.
“Infinite gratitude, thank the air, the wind, because I don’t know which family is that gave me this organ that allowed me to extend and improve my quality of life, and to the transplant team at Clínica Dávila, in whom I placed all my trust. and the one who was always concerned about giving me all the care so that I did not get infected. With the transplant, I was able to rest mentally from that need to find a kidney, and I planned to continue living and enjoying time with my daughters. After a complicated situation due to the death of my wife, I have allowed myself these moments of joy that I hope to enjoy very much ”, says Luis.
When the pandemic started, Luis decided to go to the beach to take care of himself and not get COVID-19. And the day he was informed of the available kidney, he traveled to Santiago for his transplant.
“The desire to transplant was so great that I was never afraid or worried about the pandemic. In addition, I was always with the care and with the protocols that the transplant team at Clínica Dávila gave me, so I always felt very safe ”, he adds.
[ad_2]
