Organ donation and transplantation has opened a new dimension of treatment for patients with end stage organ failures. With the concept of organ donation becoming hugely popular and families coming forward to donate organs of their brain-dead near ones, organ transplantation once restricted to only metro cities is becoming a reality in tier two cities
The first of its kind “Successful Liver Transplantation” was done in KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC Belagavi in Collaboration with Aster Hospital Bangalore.
The donor was a 30-year-old brain dead patient from Dr Ravi Pangi’s Annapurna hospital, Athani, and the liver was transplanted into a 19 year-old boy from Haveri. The surgery was performed 10 days ago and the patient is being discharged today. Another milestone achieved by KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC which is already known for kidney and heart transplant surgeries.
Liver transplantation is a very complex and technically demanding surgery performed only at designated Liver Transplant centers by highly trained transplant surgeons and requiring elaborative support teams with surgical time ranging from 12-18 hours. Patients had to go to metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad for this treatment at large costs.
Liver transplantation becomes a treatment option for patients with end stage and advanced liver failure when all medical treatment fails. Common causes requiring Liver Transplant are Alcohol induced Liver failure, Fatty Liver in patients with diabetes and obesity, Viral infections with Hepatitis B & C, Genetic and Metabolic Liver Disease. Transplant is also a lifesaving treatment option in acute liver failure secondary to infections and drugs.
In India, a large number of patients suffering from end stage liver disease succumb to their illness waiting for a liver. Availability of donor organs is a major limitation as demand for the liver far exceeds the available organs. More than 50,000 patients require Liver Transplantation in India per year, but only 800-1000 transplants are performed yearly in only 25 active centers.
It was the dream of our chairman Dr. Prabhakar Kore Sir to make this facility available for our people at very affordable rates in KLES Hospital. It was whole heartedly supported by Dr. M.V. Jali MD & CEO and Dr. R.B. Nerli, Chairman Multiorgan Transplant Unit by a collaboration with Aster Hospitals Bangalore and getting the necessary infrastructure ready and sending our staff for specialized training.
The Department of Gastroenterology headed by Dr Santosh Hajare & Dr Sudarshan Chougule at KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital and the Aster Hospital team led by Dr. Sonal Asthana accomplished this task for the first time in North Karnataka, South Maharashtra & Goa. This surgery was made possible by anaesthetists Dr Arun, Dr Mane and Dr Manjunath. It was supported by Jeevasarthakathe, Mohan Foundation and the team of transplant coordinators from KLE Hospital.
The highlight of this liver transplant programme at KLES Dr Prabhakar Hospital is that it will be available to the patients at very affordable cost (50% cost of the Metro city) and also benefits patients with Government Health Schemes with ESIC, Arogya Bhagya and Ayushman Bharat and others. Dr. Prabhakar Kore, Chairman KLES society, members of the board of Management and Dr. M.V. Jali, M.D & CEO KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC have congratulated the team of doctors. The management acknowledges the noble act of the Donor’s family.
