7 months ago
PGIMER Saves Lives with Liver and Pancreas Transplant
Doctors at PGIMER, Chandigarh, saved two lives by performing a liver and pancreas transplant.
The organs came from a man named Raghu Paswan, who was very badly hurt in a fall and couldn't be saved.
His family decided to donate his organs to help others.
The doctors faced many challenges, like bad weather and long travel, but they worked very hard to make sure the organs reached the people who needed them.
The liver and pancreas were successfully transplanted, giving new life to two patients.
One of the recipients was a 28-year-old woman who had been struggling with diabetes since she was a child.
The doctors and the donor's family showed great courage and kindness in this life-saving mission.
PGIMER, Chandigarh, successfully performed a liver and pancreas transplant using organs retrieved from AIIMS-Rishikesh.
Raghu Paswan, 42, was declared brain-dead after a fall and his family decided to donate his organs.
The transplant team faced challenges like bad weather and long travel but successfully completed the procedure within the critical time frame.
The liver was transported by road to minimize ischemia time, a first for such a long distance.
The pancreas was transplanted into a 28-year-old woman with diabetes, who is now showing signs of recovery.
- Who
- Raghu Paswan, 42, was the organ donor. The transplant was performed by PGIMER, Chandigarh.
- What
- A successful liver and pancreas transplant was carried out by PGIMER, Chandigarh, using organs retrieved from AIIMS-Rishikesh.
- Where
- The organ retrieval was done at AIIMS-Rishikesh, and the transplant was performed at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
- When
- Raghu Paswan was admitted to AIIMS-Rishikesh on January 16, 2026, and the transplant was performed shortly after.
- Why
- Raghu Paswan was declared brain-dead after a fall, and his family decided to donate his organs to save other lives.
Key facts
- Organ Donor
- Raghu Paswan, 42
- Donor Hospital
- AIIMS-Rishikesh
- Recipient Hospital
- PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Organs Transplanted
- Liver, Pancreas, Kidney
- Transplant Team
- PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Challenges Faced
- Biting cold, rain, strong winds, prolonged road travel, time constraints
- Legislation
- Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOA), 1994
- Pancreas Transplant Recipient
- 28-year-old woman with diabetes
Quotes
Prof Vivek Lal
Director of PGIMER
“This organ donation stands as a powerful reminder that humanity shines brightest in moments of loss. Despite harsh weather, long distances and immense time pressure, our teams were resolute that no organ and no life would be lost due to logistical challenges.”
thehansindia.com
“The selfless decision of the donor family, combined with extraordinary teamwork across institutions, has given multiple patients a renewed lease on life and sustained the hope of many more.”
thehansindia.com
Prof L. Kaman
Head, Department of General Surgery, PGIMER
“A dedicated liver transplant team comprising Dr Swapnesh Kumar Sahu and Dr Shibojit departed from Chandigarh at 9 p.m. on January 22 for AIIMS Rishikesh, along with a pancreas transplant team consisting of Dr Shivakumar Patil and Dr Praneeth. After nearly six hours of continuous road travel, the teams reached AIIMS Rishikesh by 3 a.m. and were rushed directly to the operation theatre for preparation and coordination.”
thehansindia.com
Prof Ashish Sharma
Head, Renal Transplant, PGIMER
“There are only a handful of pancreas transplant programmes in the country, whereas there are a large number of patients with diabetes and kidney failure.”
thehansindia.com
Dr (Maj) RPS Bhogal
Associate Professor, Department of Hospital Administration, PGIMER
“This mission was a test of real-time coordination under extreme pressure.”
thehansindia.com
