Life After Liver Transplant
Dr. Shailendra Lalwani
3 Min Read
Apr 28, 2023
A liver transplant is a surgical procedure where a liver failure case is treated by transplanting a healthy liver from either a deceased or a living donor.
Coming under the branch of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Manipal Hospitals' Liver transplant program is the largest of its kind in the country. The Liver transplantation program hosts a team of surgeons, doctors, nurses and other health professionals, who take care of the patient and the patient's family through the transplant process. Manipal Hospitals provide quality care focused on the individual needs of a patient. Hosting comprehensive expertise under one roof, focused on the patient makes the patient not just get one opinion but multiple opinions.
If a suitable donor liver has been found, surgeons then work to transplant the donor liver into the patient. The patient will then be placed on medication for pain management, anti-infection and immune suppression. The immunosuppressants are given to ensure that the body does not begin to recognize and attack the new donated liver as an intruder. In…
A Whipple procedure (also called pancreaticoduodenectomy) is a complex, yet lifesaving surgical procedure used to treat pancreatic cancer, and other disease and disorders of the pancreas, bile duct, duodenum etc. The procedure involves the removal of the part of the pancreas(head of the pancreas), duodenum, bile duct, and sometimes portions of the…
In this procedure, a part of a healthy donor's liver is extracted and implanted into the patient that needs a liver. These procedures are most common among family members, since they have the highest chance to match with each other. The donor will spend around a week in the hospital with roughly 8 weeks of recovery time before they are able to function…
Liver transplantation is a surgical procedure, which involves replacing a non-functional liver with a healthy liver. Hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery involves a surgical procedure of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
Manipal Hospital is the best Liver transplantation and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery hospital in Dwarka Delhi specialised in the diagnosis and surgical management of an array of disorders related to the pancreas, bile ducts, liver, and gallbladder.
Why Choose Manipal?
Established in November 2019, this centre is well known for liver transplants, and complex liver and pancreatic surgeries comparable to international standards. The Department of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplant include the latest infrastructure and best equipment and is thus a state-of-the-art facility
Besides, Manipal Hospital’s liver transplant team is experienced in various aspects of a liver transplant, such as deceased donor liver transplantation, living donor liver transplantation, paediatric liver transplant, combined kidney and liver transplant, etc. The team has performed about 2,000 transplants and more than 10,000 complex Gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato biliary surgeries to date and is supported by a multidisciplinary team to offer you the best possible care.
We have world-class modular operation theatres where complicated and advanced surgical procedures are performed safely and comfortably. Our department is supported by well-equipped Intensive Care Units and well-qualified consultants to ensure better outcomes.
Manipal Hospital has the most advanced technology in cancer surgery, including the da-Vinci Robotic system, intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), cavitron ultrasonic aspirator and dissector (CUSA) for the liver parenchymal transaction, argon plasma coagulator (APC), harmonic scalpel, and ligature.
State-of-the-art equipment is also available for preoperative evaluation such as Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). We are also equipped with Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE).
Well-recognised faculty member, trained in the best centres globally.
One of the best in the country operating rooms and dedicated liver ICU (intensive care unit) of international standards with an experienced critical care team.
More than 16 years of surgical experience in the team.
State of art set-up with all modern types of equipment.
Services Available
Cadaveric transplantation
Liver transplantation in children
Split donation Liver transplant
Dual lobe transplantation
Swap transplantation
ABO-incompatible transplant
Domino liver transplant.
Hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer
Hepatoblastoma
Hemangioma (non-cancerous lump on the liver, that can cause pain)
Metastatic tumours
Benign liver tumours
Hydatid cysts (a complication of tapeworm infection, causing blister-like growth in the liver)
An amoebic liver abscess (a complication of amoebic dysentery infection, where the parasite infects the liver)
Liver injury
Hepatolithiasis (gallstones in the biliary ducts of the liver).
Laparoscopic, Robotic Donor Surgery, and Cosmetic Donor Surgery
Laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery has transformed surgical practice for good, which is true for liver transplant surgery. Benefits of minimally invasive surgery include less pain, minimal scarring, fewer complications and shorter hospital stay among many others. Manipal Hospitals has the best liver transplantation surgeon in Dwarka, Delhi who are well experienced in Robotic and Laparoscopic donor surgery. They have also worked on performing cosmetic donor surgery, small incision donor hepatectomy (SIDH) and hand-assisted laparoscopic donor hepatectomy (HALDH).
Robotic Surgery Has the Following Advantages Over Conventional Minimally Invasive Surgery:
3D visualisation
Instrument dexterity
Improved ergonomics.
Manipal Hospitals is the best liver transplant surgery hospital in Dwarka, Delhi having the best hepato-biliary and liver transplant surgeons in Dwarka, Delhi who are well experienced in hepato-pancreato biliary (HPB) surgery, which includes all liver, biliary and pancreatic surgeries and procedures. Procedures are commonly carried out for:
Surgeries for Gallbladder and Bile Duct
Bile is a yellowish-green coloured fluid produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder; a small pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver. Bile is needed for the digestion of food, especially to break down fats. bile also helps in the elimination of waste products such as bilirubin and excess cholesterol from the body. Bile is released from the gall bladder and carried to the intestine through the bile duct when we eat food. The flow of the bile can be blocked due to the following reasons requiring surgery.
Gallbladder or bile duct stones
Gallbladder and bile duct cancer (Hepatectomy/ Whipple’s procedure)
A choledochal cyst (birth defect of the bile duct)
Mirrizzi syndrome (obstruction of the bile duct by external compression by gallstones)
Hemobilia (blood in bile or biliary tract)
Bile duct injury (Biliary fistula)
Benign biliary stricture (Primary hepaticojejunostomy/redo hepaticojejunostomy)
Biliary atresia (obstruction of bile flow in infants)- Kasai portoenterostomy procedure
Choledocholithiasis (gallstone in the common bile duct).
The pancreas is a small organ present in the abdomen. It helps in the digestion of food and also helps to regulate blood sugar levels by secreting insulin. Common disorders of the pancreas which require surgery include
Pancreatic cancer (Whipple’s a procedure/ median pancreatectomy/ bypass procedure)
Chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Severe acute pancreatitis (necrotizing pancreatitis) – necrosectomy
Pancreatic cystic lesions (fluid-filled pockets in the pancreas)
Pancreatic trauma.
Portal hypertension is a condition characterized by the high pressure of the portal vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. The most common cause includes liver injury caused by cirrhosis and chronic alcohol abuse. The most common complications of portal hypertension include gastrointestinal bleeding, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, confusion, forgetfulness and reduced blood cells. Various surgical procedures done in our hospital to reduce portal hypertension include
Portosystemic shunt procedures (splenorenal/ portocaval/ mesocaval)
Surgery for Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO)
Surgery for Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF)
Budd Chiari syndrome (occlusion of the hepatic veins)
Cirrhosis with bleed
Non-liver surgeries in patients with portal hypertension.
The tube connecting the throat with the stomach is known as the oesophagus. Various conditions that require surgery are carried out in our department including
Oesophagal cancer - Esophagectomy (Transhiatal / Transthoracic)
Corrosive stricture (acid/alkali ingestion) – Gastric/ colonic pull up
Hiatus hernia (part of the stomach is pushed up into the chest cavity)
Esophageal perforations
Tracheoesophageal fistula (abnormal joining of the oesophagus and the windpipe
Achalasia (nerve damage of the oesophagus leading to painful swallowing of food and water)
Our department also performs surgical procedures for the management of various conditions of the upper gastrointestinal tract including
Gastric (stomach) cancer
Duodenal cancer
Peptic ulcers (Gastric/ duodenal)
Gastroduodenal bleeding
Gastric obstruction
Duodenal fistula
Gastro- duodenal perforations.
Colorectal surgery is a branch of medical science concerned with the management of various disorders of the rectum, anus and colon. Our department carries out the following procedures:
Colonic surgeries for both malignant and benign conditions
Colon Cancer
Ulcerative colitis (Subtotal colectomy/ proctocolectomy/ hand-sewn & stapled pouch procedures)
Obstruction
Polyposis Coli (a type of cancer)
Bleeding
Obscure gastrointestinal bleed
Perforation
Fistula
Pouch related complications
Diverticulitis (infection or inflammation of the intestine)
The appendix is a small, tube-shaped structure located at the lower right side of the abdomen. The appendix can become inflamed and swollen and bacterial infection can cause pus to build up inside it, causing severe pain. This requires the surgical removal of the appendix and is an emergency procedure. Our department carries out both Open and Laparoscopic appendectomy surgeries.
Rectal and Anal Canal Surgeries
The rectum and the anal canal are the terminal portions of the gastrointestinal tract. Our department carries out various rectal and anal canal surgeries for conditions of
Cancers- Mesorectal excisions (LAR/ APR/ Sphincter saving operations for rectal cancer)
Rectovaginal fistula (the rectum and the vagina are connected causing gas or stool to pass through the vagina
Rectal prolapse (the rectum drops down towards the anus)
Hemorrhoidectomy (removal of haemorrhoids) – stapled and open procedures
Complex fistula in the anus.
The progress of minimally invasive surgery has transformed surgical practice in the fields of HPB and gastrointestinal surgery. Robotic surgery versus conventional minimally invasive surgery has several advantages including 3D visualisation, improved ergonomics and instrument dexterity. Advantages of Laparoscopic and robotic surgery over open surgery include minimal scarring, less pain, less blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and early return to normal activities. Our team is well experienced in advanced laparoscopic and robotic HPB and Gastrointestinal surgeries.
We do all complex liver resections (removal of a part or whole liver) with or without vascular resections.
The surgeons are experts in dealing with cancers of the liver, pancreas and the biliary system, difficult benign diseases like complicated pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and benign biliary disease.
Our team is an expert in performing liver resections, pancreatic resections and biliary surgeries by open, laparoscopic and robotic techniques as per the indications.
Our team is well experienced in open laparoscopic and robotic gastrointestinal surgeries including esophagectomies, gastro-duodenal surgeries, small bowel surgeries, colonic surgeries, and rectal and anal canal surgeries.
The liver is one of the most complex organs playing an important role in the quality of life. Liver transplantation restores a better quality of life and helps patients in living healthy. Some of the reasons why a transplant would be needed are Acute liver failure, Biliary atresia, Cirrhosis, Hepatitis (viral, autoimmune and idiopathic), Liver tumours, Metabolic diseases, Portal hypertension, Primary biliary cirrhosis, Primary sclerosing cholangitis At Manipal Hospitals, facilities are there to cater to most critical liver-related concerns.
A liver transplant can have excellent outcomes. Recipients have been known to live a normal life over 30 years after the operation. Get the best treatment at the liver transplantation surgery hospital in Dwarka, Delhi.
Liver transplantation is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver from a living donor or a deceased donor. It is a complex and high-risk procedure, but it can be a life-saving treatment for people with end-stage liver disease. Liver transplantation is typically considered for people with conditions such as:
Cirrhosis is a scarring of the liver that prevents it from functioning properly.
Chronic hepatitis B or C infection that has caused significant liver damage.
Liver cancer
Acute liver failure is a sudden and severe loss of liver function.
Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery is a surgical speciality that focuses on the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts. HPB surgeons are trained to perform a variety of procedures, including:
Liver resection, which involves removing a portion of the liver.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as a Whipple procedure, involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, and the bile duct.
Biliary tract surgery, which involves repairing or removing bile ducts.
Gallbladder removal
Before surgery:
You will meet with your doctor to discuss your medical history and your surgery plan.
You will also need to have some preoperative tests, such as blood tests, imaging tests, and electrocardiograms (EEGs).
During surgery:
You will be given general anesthesia and will not feel any pain.
The surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen and perform the surgery.
After surgery:
You will be taken to the recovery room for monitoring.
Once you are stable, you will be transferred to a regular hospital room.
Most patients stay in the hospital for a few days after liver transplantation or HPB surgery.
Manipal Hospital Dwarka is a highly equipped multi-speciality hospital that is trusted for optimum care and clinical excellence. You can book an appointment with our experts for consultation with our experts.
The cost of emergency care in Delhi can vary depending on the type of care provided and the patient's insurance coverage. However, in general, the costs are relatively affordable.
Liver transplantation, like any other organ transplantation, is the patient's choice. But a new liver is a gift of life that needs to be respected and cared with appreciation. Contact us to know more about Liver transplant surgery and book an appointment with one of our surgeons today.