The Hyderabad based Global Hospital has made a record by registering more than 300 successful liver transplant surgeries in the country.
With the 300th liver transplant conducted successful on a Nellore based patient, doctors at Global hospital celebrated their success commemorating the World liver day on 18th April 2014.
According to Dr. K Ravindranath, chairman and managing director Global Hospital Group, lack of awareness and drastic lifestyle changes are some of the major reasons that are pushing the liver related disorders to endemic proportions in India. At present the country is home to 11 per cent of the world’s patients affected with chronic Hepatitis B and about one to two lakh people die due to liver cancer or cirrhosis in the country. “It is estimated that about 0.02 per cent of population i.e., about 25000 persons need liver transplants every year. The need of the hour is to remove the myths and increase awareness about organ donation among public,” said Dr. K. Ravindranath.
So far, the Global Hospital Group has conducted a total of 600 liver transplantation surgeries at its four centers viz., Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai across India. Among all the centers Hyderabad Global Hospital has reached the record of performing 300 successful liver transplant surgeries in the country.
Dr. Tom Cherian, who is a leading liver transplant surgeon at Global hospitals, opined that detecting the liver disease at early stage will help avoid liver transplant. The cost of liver transplant ranges from 18 lakh to 25 lakh depending up on the complexity of disease. Though the state government had initiated cadaver donation schemes like Jeevandan, it is lacking adequate infrastructure facilities and fund crunch.
The major reason for liver disorders and liver cancer in India is attributed to smoking, hypertension and drinking alcohol. Doctors expressed concern as there is huge rise in the number of paediatric liver cases. Children with end stage liver disease have a very short and miserable life. “Children with liver transplant can lead normal lives and become adults. But it is unfortunate that paediatric liver transplantation services are limited in India,” Informed Dr. Tom
Acute liver failure is another rising concern among the healthy population these days. It strikes young people in their prime. High fever, jaundice and unconsciousness are the major symptoms of acute liver failure. This disorder has high mortality rate with 70-80 per cent chance of death if not treated properly.
The doctors also viewed that in India, the cadaver donor rate is only 0.3 per cent and only 800-900 transplant surgeries are happening in the country annually, while in western countries like USA and UK, annually 5000 to 6000 organ transplant surgeries are conducted. For India to reach that stage the cadaver donation rate should at least reach 3 per cent so that it will facilitate doctors to perform organ transplant surgeries to 18000 to 25000 patients annually without having to wait for the donor.