Aster CMI Hospital has announced the launch of PEARL (Pediatric Emergency and Advanced Response for Liver Care) – Karnataka’s first dedicated Pediatric Liver Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This specialized unit has been purpose-built to exclusively manage children with severe and life-threatening liver conditions.
Pediatric liver emergencies often escalate rapidly, leading to complications such as brain swelling, infections, organ failure, and metabolic disturbances. Equipped with advanced monitoring systems and supported by a multidisciplinary team of pediatric hepatologists, liver transplant surgeons, intensivists, anesthetists, infectious disease specialists, and specially trained liver ICU nurses, PEARL enables rapid response, precision care, and continuous monitoring during critical moments.
Prof. (Dr.) N. Karthik Nagesh, Program Director, Pediatric Centre’s of Excellence, Aster CMI Hospital, Karnataka, said, “With PEARL, we can initiate early, targeted interventions and provide continuous, liver-focused critical care tailored specifically for children. This approach significantly improves clinical outcomes and, in some cases, supports recovery without the need for liver transplantation”.
Dr Sonal Asthana, Program Director, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Multiorgan Transplantation, Aster CMI Hospital, Karnataka, said, “The Aster Integrated Liver Care Team is Karnataka’s largest liver care and transplant provider, treating more than 7000 patients with liver disease annually. It performs more than 100 liver transplantation procedures in Bangalore annually, of which a significant number are for Pediatric liver failure. The launch of a dedicated Pediatric liver ICU highlights our commitment to providing world-class interdisciplinary care for these very sick children”.
Dr. Prashanth N, CEO, Aster Hospitals, Karnataka, added, “The launch of PEARL reflects our commitment to redefining pediatric critical care. By establishing a dedicated liver ICU backed by expert multidisciplinary teams, we are strengthening our ability to deliver timely, specialized, and comprehensive care for critically ill children, while setting new benchmarks in pediatric healthcare”.
With the launch of PEARL, Aster CMI Hospital is reshaping the pediatric healthcare landscape by introducing a dedicated, highly specialized liver care ecosystem combining clinical expertise, advanced technology, and compassionate care to improve outcomes for children across the region.
