To promote deceased organ donation in Belagavi and neighbouring districts of Northern Karnataka, MOHAN Foundation organised a Continuous Medical Education (CME) on Brain Death and Organ Donation on 7^th December 2018. The partnering organisations were Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS), KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre (KLES) and Jeevasarthakathe, The Karnataka State Authority for Deceased Donation. The CME was held in a lecture hall in BIMS and was attended by nearly 200 people comprising medical teaching faculty, clinicians, surgeons, administrators, medical and nursing students. MOHAN Foundation was represented by Mr. Shridhar Hanchinal, Hon. Director for Karnataka and Dr. Hemal Kanvinde, Quality Assurance Officer.

The CME began with a welcome address delivered by Dr. Vinay Dastikop, Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Belagavi.  This was followed by a talk on the Overview of Activities by Jeevasarthakathe delivered by the Convenor, Dr. Kishore Phadke. He spoke on how the Government will assist in promoting the cause of deceased donation and how the hospitals and patients can register with the authority.  

The next talk was on Transplant Law on Deceased Organ Donation given by Dr Hemal. She mentioned how brain death is defined under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994, the certification process, the need for a brain death committee, brain death audits, importance of educating ICU nurses and transplant coordinators., 

There was a short Inauguration for the CME by Brig. Govind  Kalwad, YSM, Commandant  MLIRC, Belagavi, other dignitaries were Dr. M. V. Jali, Medical Director  & CEO, KLES. Dr. P.K. Hospital and MRC, Belagavi. The inauguration was presided over by Dr. S. T. Kalsad, Director, BIMS, Belagavi.

After the inauguration there were sessions on Brain Stem Death, Certification and Documentation conducted by Dr. R. Chinnadurai of Sparsh Hospital, Bengaluru.  He spoke of the early identification usually done by ICU nurses with an absence of cough reflex and high urine output. He explained the process and certification and gave examples on how to proceed when trauma does not allow some tests to be done.

This was followed by a talk on Donor Maintenance by Dr. V. Arun of Aster CMI, Bengaluru. He explained the importance of keeping the organs functioning, and the Rule of 100. He said that there are some donor care bundles available and they can guide an intensivist to support the donor.  

After his presentation, Dr. Phadke moderated a panel discussion on Challenges in Organ and Tissue Donation in North Karnataka. On the panel were Dr. Rajesh Powar, Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Saroja A O, Neurologist, Dr Rajesh Shenoy, Neurologist and Dr. Pramod Sulikeri, Transplant Coordinator, all from KLES Dr. P. K Hospital and MRC and Dr. Amresh Deginhal, Neurosurgeon  at S. Nijalingappa Medical College Bagalkot. Practical aspects of brain death, donor maintenance and tissue donation were discussed by the panel.

At the end of the CME, Shri Shridhar Hanchinal delivered a vote of thanks.