Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore Conducts Multi-City Organ Retrieval Operation

Bengaluru, February 20. Command Hospital Air Force Bangalore (CHAFB) conducted a significant organ retrieval operation on 19 February 2025, marking a milestone in its commitment to organ donation and life-saving medical interventions. The donor, a serving soldier, while on leave, suffered severe head trauma consequent to a road traffic accident at Kasaragod in Kerala. He was evacuated to CHAFB on February 17, 2025 after stabilisation. He was subsequently declared brain dead. His relatives, including his wife and brother, selflessly agreed to donate his organs for saving the lives of other patients.

After coordination with the Karnataka State Organ Transplant Authority, an organ retrieval team immediately flew in from Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi in an Indian Air Force (IAF) Airbus 321 to retrieve the Cornea, Liver, and one Kidney. Another Kidney was transplanted locally at CHAFB. A team from Chennai, using a commercial flight, arrived to retrieve the Heart and the Lungs for MGM and Gleneagles Hospitals respectively to provide life-saving transplants to patients in urgent need.

To ensure seamless transportation of the retrieved organs, the Command Hospital closely coordinated with Bengaluru police to establish a ‘green corridor.’ This meticulously planned route facilitated swift and uninterrupted transfer of organs from the operation theatre to the airport terminal, significantly reducing travel time and preserving organ viability.

The CHAFB has been a key institution in organ donation initiatives and has previously conducted multiple organ retrieval procedures. However, this is the first time organs were transported to multiple cities, underscoring the growing collaboration between military and civilian medical institutions in addressing critical healthcare needs.