Surgeons almost ‘come to blows’ when retrieving organs for transplants
Dr Zachary Kon says fellow surgeons need to ‘check self-interest and egos’ at the theatre door during organ donor procedures.
A transplant doctor has described how tensions can rise during organ retrievals on dead patients, with surgeons in one case coming close to fisticuffs over where to cut the inferior vena cava.
Dr Zachary Kon stressed the problems were arising because several surgeons, each intent on their own retrieval, might be working to remove different organs from the one donor at the same time.
The cardiothoracic surgeon based in the US described a series of incidents, including his own “mortifying” outbursts, as part of an appeal for better behaviour from his transplant peers.
“In one instance, I witnessed a heart surgeon and liver surgeon working on the same donor nearly come to blows — over where to cut a vessel.
