The 160-kg patient from Kolkata was discharged after three weeks in a satisfactory condition
BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital has successfully performed a complex liver transplant on a 38-year-old morbidly obese patient, marking it to be the first in South India. The patient was suffering from a liver disease called decompensated chronic liver disease (liver cirrhosis) and was listed for a cadaveric liver transplant for more than three months. With no other option in hand, a team of transplant surgeons, transplant
anaesthetists and intensivists and hepatologists decided to perform a liver transplant on Ravindra who weighed 160 Kg.
The team of experts meticulously planned the surgery ruling out all the complications and saved the life of Ravindra. The patient, a middle-aged businessman from Kolkata, was readmitted to the hospital after he
got a liver offer from a cadaveric donor on January 8, 2021, and was discharged after three weeks in a satisfactory condition.
Dr Sunil Shenvi, Consultant, Multi-organ Transplantation and HPB surgery, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital said, “When Mr Ravindra reached out to us for his liver problem, he was very weak and required immediate medical attention. After evaluating him completely, we decided that he needs a liver transplant. It was a difficult decision for us considering his
weight, but we decided to go ahead. We planned everything meticulously well in advance and were geared up to transplant the heaviest patient in South India.”
Many health experts have been witnessing a surge in the cases of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in India which are common liver problems in obese patients. Poor diet and sedentary lifestyle have taken a toll on the health of young
adults which can progress to liver cirrhosis. When the fat gets accumulated in the liver cells, gradually it causes inflammation and eventually leads to NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis). Inadequate medical intervention during this phase can lead to scarring in the liver causing end-stage liver disease.
Unlike any liver transplant, this case was more unique and complex, as the patient weighed way more than usual. The instruments, facilities and the treatment plan for the patient were different from the traditional treatment method. For instance, he was given nursing care in a special bed particularly used for obese patients. Before his surgery, doctors
wanted to enrol him in a weight reduction programme or get bariatric surgery done; however, due to his liver problem, it was extremely difficult to lose weight. Hence, doctors went ahead with the transplant as soon as a cadaver donor was available for transplant.
Dr Venugopal B Pillai, HOD and Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital said, “As the patient weighed 160 kg at the time of admission and also had liver cirrhosis, the team was well prepared to face any complications during the surgery. Initially, during the planning phase, the team decided to get bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery)
simultaneously, but the patients’ health condition was feeble at the end of the surgery, so we deferred it.”
As the transplant was complex, it took 12 hours to perform the liver transplant. Later, the patient was given post-op care in the transplant ICU, followed by optimal nutritional therapy and best physiotherapy care to bring him back to normalcy.
Sandeep Kumar, CEO, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital said, “Being a pioneer of a liver transplant, our doctors are fully capable to handle any complex liver transplant patient. I would like to congratulate the team for successfully performing the surgery. I would also like to thank the donor’s family for their selfless gesture and giving the patient a new lease of
life.”
The team that spearheaded this complex surgery includes Prof Dr Venugopal B Pillai, Dr Sunil Shenvi, Dr Uma, from the Anaesthesia and critical care department, Dr Kuttappa, Dr Arun, Dr Vijay, Dr Ashish, and Dr Mahesh, from Medical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dr Adarsh, from Interventional radiology, Dr Uttappa and Dr Rohit, from Physiotherapy
Mr Mohan Babu, who made this surgery a success.
Mr Ravindra is currently out of danger and is continuing his physiotherapy care to reduce his weight and to avoid any further health problems.
