Advancements in Liver Transplantation in 2023 in India

A healthy liver, a stronger you

Understanding the role of the liver

The liver is an indispensable organ that is found in the upper right side of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm. It is one of the most complex and largest organs in the human body, weighing between 1.4 and 1.6 kilograms and measuring about 10 centimeters. It purifies blood, removes waste, and transforms them into harmless substances. It produces bile which helps in the digestion of food.

Signs your Liver is struggling

There are very less noticeable signs and symptoms of liver damage or failure. Most of the time people mix the symptoms of liver damage with the symptoms of other illnesses. Some of the common symptoms are:

Jaundice
Fatigue
Abdominal Pain
Swelling
Nausea and Vomiting
Loss of Appetite
Bleeding and Bruising
Mental Confusion
Personality Changes
Dark Urine
Pale Stools
Blood vomiting
Bleeding in stomach

If the liver gets damaged beyond a point and all other existing treatments fail, a liver transplant becomes the final treatment option left to live a normal life.

Diseases that Affect the Liver

Some of the conditions and health problems that are making the liver unhealthy include:

Hepatitis(A,B,C)
Cirrhosis
Alcohol-related Fatty Liver Disease
Non-Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease
Liver Cancer
Wilson’s Disease

What happens to your liver if you consume alcohol daily?

The liver breaks down food into energy, including alcohol. But the liver usually does the breaking very slowly and too much consumption of alcohol can result in liver damage.

Drinking more alcohol causes fat addition in your body. People who are heavy drinkers are likely to face more liver problems such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.

Drinking responsibly can prevent liver damage.

Factors that affect the eligibility for liver transplant

A comprehensive assessment is done to check the eligibility for a liver transplant. And not everyone who needs a transplant is eligible for the process.

To be a candidate for a liver transplant, one must:

Have severe liver dysfunction that no longer responds to other treatments
Understands the risks of surgery
Be physically and mentally stable of undergoing surgery
Not a smoker or alcoholic
Be of a certain age that is suitable for surgery

Understanding the Living Liver Donor requirements

To be a candidate for a liver donor, one must:

Have excellent physical health and a healthy liver
Have a required Body Mass Index(BMI)
Must be financially stable to manage the possible expenses.
Be physically and mentally stable of undergoing surgery
Not a smoker or drug abuse

Life-changing benefits of liver transplantation

A liver transplant offers a possible chance of survival, improved liver function, and relief from fatigue and other symptoms.

The primary goal is to achieve a better quality of life. The initial stage of liver transplantation is the most crucial. It poses the greatest threat to survival due to organ rejection, surgical complications, and infection.

Patients can easily survive 5 years or longer after transplantation.

Potential Post-Transplant Risks

While there is a high success rate, there are also risks that are associated with transplant surgery:

Infection: The drawback of taking immunosuppressants is that the immune system will be weak and not able to fight off infections, thereby making the body more inclined to increased risk of infections.
Organ Rejection: The transplanted liver is foreign to the body, and the immune system will fight against it. Therefore, post-transplant immunosuppressants are prescribed to prevent rejection.
Cardiovascular Risks: Increased chances of cardiovascular risks due to:

Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels.

Top reasons to choose Indian hospitals for Liver Transplants

Patients looking for world-class medical treatment choose India because of its outstanding services. Liver transplantation in India offers quality treatment, high success rates, and provides compassionate care. Some of the services provided by the best liver transplant hospitals in India are:

Highly skilled transplant surgeons and medical team
Treatment is done with the latest medical technologies
Lower cost of liver transplants in India compared to other countries
Shorter waiting time for organ allocation
Special facilities for international patients
Follow-up care once you return to your native country

Leading Hospitals in India for Liver Transplant

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon

FMRI’s liver transplant unit offers everything from pre-surgical planning to post-operative care.
It allows access to a variety of organ surgeries, including liver-kidney transplants and liver-lung transplants if necessary.

Max Super Specialty Hospital, Gurgaon

The Max network of hospitals has a large staff of over 180 specialists who have performed over 2600 liver transplants in the last 20 years.
The liver transplant procedure is performed with a high success rate and low infection rate.

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon

With 300 full-time doctors, the hospital is equipped with cutting-edge medical technology such as a 3 Tesla MRI, 64 Slice CT scan, and 16 Slice PET CT scan.
Ramdip Ray is the hospital’s Joint Director of Liver Transplants and Senior Consultant for GI Surgery.

Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon

Medanta Hospital is the first of its type to provide liver transplants as well as treatment for all levels of liver disease in both children and adults.
The largest living donor liver transplant program in India is run by a team of highly qualified specialists.

Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurgaon

Across India, the organization operates three hospitals and numerous clinics.
In 2018, the hospital treated over 25,000 patients, and performed over 6000 joint replacements, 1,500 IVF treatments, over 2000 births, and 5000 Arthroscopic ACL Reconstructions.

Top surgeons in India for Liver transplant

Dr. Ravi Mohanka – Top Liver Transplant Surgeon in India

Education: MBBS, MS, DNB (Gen Surgery), ASTS Fellowship (Liver Transplant), Training (Regenerative Medicine)

Hospital: Global Hospital, Mumbai

Experience: 27 years

Dr. Vivek Vij – Best Liver Transplant Surgeon in India

Education: MBBS, MS – General Surgery, DNB – General Surgery

Hospital: Fortis Hospital, Gurgaon

Experience: 24 Years

Specialty: Liver Transplant Doctor
Dr. Subhash Gupta – Top Liver Transplant Doctor in India

Education: MBBS, MS – General Surgery, FRCS – General Surgery (Upper GI)

Hospital: Max Healthcare Hospital, Delhi

Experience: 33 years

Specialty: Liver Transplant and Biliary Surgeon
Dr. Amit Nath Rastogi – Best Liver Transplant Doctor in India

Education: D.N.B. (General Surgery), M.B.B.S., M.S. (General Surgery)

Hospital: Medanta Hospital, Delhi

Experience: 23 years

Dr. Ramdip Ray – Famous Liver Transplant Surgeon in India

Education: MBBS, MS – General Surgery

Hospital: Artemis Hospital Gurgaon

Experience: 22 years

Specialty: Liver Transplant Expert

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long is the waiting period for a liver transplant in India?

The decent waiting time is 6-12 months or more. The length of the waiting period for a liver transplant varies on factors such as the severity of the liver disease, blood type, and donor organ availability.