A Synopsis of Liver Transplant Surgery in India – A Chance to Life

Livers are one of the most important organs in the body –they handle glycogen storage, protein synthesis, hormone production, detoxification, and decomposition of red blood cells. In general, liver is a highly resilient organ that can actually repair itself, although in certain enhanced cases of liver damage, liver transplant surgery becomes indispensable. Long term alcohol abuse and uses of dietary supplements such as Hydroxycut can lead to liver damage. The first successful liver transplant occurred in 1967 and over the years the survival rates of patients has increased from a dismal 25% in the 1960 to around 85% today.

Liver transplant accessibility in India:

Liver transplant cost in India is an exorbitant affair for most patients. The average cost of liver transplant in India ranges in lakhs, but when compared with other countries in the world it is much more cost effective. It is a fact that India attracts a very high amount of foreign patients for liver transplant. When it comes to liver transplant India, Bangalore competes like no other city to match with foreign counterparts. Bangalore is on its way to become the health hub of India with its technological advancement and with best liver transplant surgery specialist in India. The leading hospitals with their top notch doctors are highly alluring for potential patients in neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Srilanka.

Symptoms of liver damage:

The syndrome of end stage liver disease include worsening mental confusion, severe itching, fatigue, low platelet count, variceal bleeding, endema, asciites and jaundice.

In India average families adopting poor lifestyle choices lead them to hepatic diseases. The W.H.O survey states that about 2.5 lakhs patients die of a hepatic complication each year. It has been observed that out of 25,000 patients who require a transplant, only 5% actually gets a new organ.

Basic criteria of Liver transplant:

Organ transplant can happen only with the consent of the donors. Organs like bone marrow, pancreas, and liver can be separated from live donors as the removal of a portion of an organ does not affect the function of organ. Legalization of transplantation of human organs has given rise to the concept of getting organ donated from the brain-dead patients. This is a condition where the brain is dead and cannot be brought back to life but the heart continues to beat and all the vital organs are kept alive and functional with the help of mechanical ventilation. This condition is best to remove the organs for transplantation.

Organ transplant receiver needs to make substantial lifestyle changes. This essentially means they need to stop smoking, alcohol and may also require reducing a substantial weight.

Report this Page