Dr Rakesh Rai a specialist in Liver, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgeon, Fortis Hospital Mulund

Fortis Hospitals successfully performs Year 2013 First Cadaver Liver Transplant Surgery in the city of Mumbai

 

Mumbai 14th January 2013:  Fortis Hospital Mulund performs city's first successful liver transplantation of the year 2013. The life saving surgery was performed by liver transplant team of Fortis Hospital, Mulund led by senior consultant Transplant Surgeon Dr. Rakesh Rai. Mr. Nivrutti Shinde, 62-year old man who was suffering from advanced liver cirrhosis once again is brought back to life by a cadaver liver transplant from a very young brain dead patient. 

Patient Mr. Nivrutti Shinde got surprise of his life and the best New Year gift when he got a call on 6th of January that a suitable liver is available for him for liver transplantation. Mr. Shinde who is a 68 year old retired principal was diagnosed to have cirrhosis few months ago. When he was investigated for swollen limb. Further investigation revealed that his liver had shrunken and he has developed portal hypertension.  He was listed for cadaver liver transplantation in Fortis Hospital, Mulund only 10 days back on 27th December of 2012. 

On 6th Of January a patient in Fortis hospital ICU was declared brain death following a severe head injury in a Road traffic accident. The grieving family made a courageous decision to donate the organs to save others life.

The donor underwent a 4hr procedure to harvest his kidneys and liver starting in the evening of 6th Janauary’13. The donor was taken in to the operation theatre for harvesting (surgical removal of cadaver organs) of liver and kidneys. The donor's liver along with its vascular pedicles and bile duct, cooled and flushed with special cold preserving solution. The liver was packed in a plastic bag containing preserving solution and kept in a large Ice box to maintain a low temperature. At the same time in another operating room Mr. Shinde was wheeled in. The team of transplant anesthetist led by Dr. Vijay Shetty put him to sleep and then then put several catheters to continuously monitor several vital parameters during surgery.

 Dr Rakesh Rai a specialist in Liver, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgeon, Fortis Hospital Mulund Says “Surgery consisted of taking out the cirrhotic liver from the patient which is a very complex and challenging procedure as because of cirrhosis the blood does not clot easily as well as the blood vessels in the abdomen get abnormally dilated. The meticulous dissection as well as continuous monitoring and correction of bleeding tendency led to removal of cirrhotic liver without significant blood loss. Next stage was to implant the harvested liver in the place from where cirrhotic liver was removed. We then first joined the part of Inferior vena cava above the liver of donor and recipient then the cava below the liver was joined. Next both portal veins were joined and then the blood flow to the new liver was established. The new liver immediately started working and producing bile. Next part was to join the artery and bile duct. This whole complex procedure was finished in just 6 hours”.

“Following liver transplantation Mr. Shinde was shifted to liver transplant ICU and he was taken off the ventilator within 12 hrs of his surgery. Mr. Shinde made a remarkable recovery and was out of ICU in the ward within two days of transplantation and he is now ready to be discharged within 7 days of his surgery” Said Dr Rai.

 Ms Rajana Shinde wife of Patient Says “It came us like a surprise to us when we saw first bleeding from Husband. He undergone hernia surgery, but Dr never told us about the cirrhosis. We would have started taking treatment. One doctor said it is a kidney problem & we started taking treatment for kidney. Later his condition was deteriorating &his biopsy report confirmed the liver cirrhosis and need urgent liver transplant”

“We decided to undergo liver transplant surgery but we were told that doctors’ in Mumbai are less efficient for doing transplant surgery, in-fact he was suggesting Delhi as a preferred option for liver transplant” Says Ms. Shinde. Talking on the decision for transplant in Delhi, she said doctor suggested for live donor for Transplant Surgery. We had undergone pain by doing several different processes from Mumbai then in Delhi for liver transplant surgery done at outstation for live donor. Mr. Shinde got admitted for Transplant Surgery in Delhi Hospital as his 28 yr old nephew was ready as a live donor. But unfortunately it didn’t work, as donor said he was having fatty liver.

To get fitted for transplant surgery my nephew lost his weight almost 4- 5 kg, but later Dr’s didn’t showed positive response. We were confused as we were not able to get our query solved inspite of following what Dr has suggested. And we decided to come back in Mumbai Said Ms. Shinde.

“Mr. Shinde was listed for Cadaver at Fortis Hospital, Mulund only 10 days back. Luckily Mr. Shinde did not have to wait long. In New Year 2013, relatives of a 33 yr old young brain dead patient (who was admitted in Fortis Hospitals ICU) when counseled by the hospital social workers team, agreed to donate liver for transplantation” Said Social Worker Neelam Choudankar.

“Post Cadaver liver Transplant Surgery Mr. Shinde is out of ICU only on 3^rd days and will be discharged on Monday” Said Dr Rakesh Rai.

Dr S Narayani, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Mulund Said “Recent political involvement in organ donation all across the city has created awareness on organ donation. We as a healthcare partner ensure that more and more people should be aware of organ donation and how it can helps one life. Organ donation and sharing among the patients is a very challenging. There has to be development in the infrastructure to support organ donation across the country and finally there has to be a national network for listing patients on the waiting list and sharing of the organ”.

A smiling, visibly elated Mr. Shinde said, "I want to spread the message that just as one donates eyes and kidneys, one must also donate a liver to give new life to someone else. I consider my donor as an angel, since I got a new lease of life thanks to the liver transplant. I'm grateful to Dr Rakesh Rai and his entire medical team at Fortis Hospitals who helped me with New Year gift. And in all this, I'd specially like to thank my wife Ranjana Shinde & Son Sachin, Sudhir & nephew who supported me all the way. She proves the proverb that behind every man there is a strong woman."