BGS Global Hospitals Performs 100 Liver Transplants

A First in Karnataka
May, 12th, 2015, Bangalore: BGS Global Hospitals Super Specialty Quaternary Care,
organized a press meet today on performing 100 Liver Transplants, by the Global Integrated
Liver Care Team, A First in Karnataka.
There are a number of factors that have led to the establishment of a robust liver transplant
program in BGS Global Hospital. The foremost was the formation of a team comprising of
highly skilled liver transplant surgeons, hepatologists, specialized anaesthetists and intensive
care experts. Dedicated and specially trained nurses form an important part of the team. Equally
important are physiotherapists, nutritionists, and counsellors. Notably, BGS Global Hospital is
the only hospital in Karnataka with a special dedicated liver ICU where all forms of advanced
liver diseases can be managed in a state of the art manner.
Dr Kaiser Raja, Consultant, Hepatologist, BGS Global Hospitals, said, Global Integrated
Liver Care (ILC) Team has also done a lot to promote awareness of liver disease, and liver
transplantation in the community as well as the physicians in the state. This includes systematic
studies to assess the prevalence of chronic liver disease through the Bangalore Hepatitis project,
which is a first of a kind community based assessment of Hepatitis B and C prevalence in the
city. More than 100 outreach programs such as seminars and continuing medical education
programs have been conducted by the team in almost each district of the state involving medical
colleges, large hospitals and physician associations across the state. The team has also
established a training program for transplantation nursing to develop human skills in managing
these complex patients, and have trained nurses for the private and government sector alike. This
is the first dedicated transplant-nursing program in the whole country.
Dr Mathew Jacob, Consultant, Multi Organ Transplant Surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals,
said, One of the most encouraging things for the development of organ transplantation has been
the increasing acceptance of organ donation after brain death. In Karnataka, the organ donation
rates have increased over the last four years, but more than 200 patients are on the active waiting
list for liver transplant in our State. The real success of transplant programs will be possible only
if we as a society pledge to donate our organs after death.
Dr Rajiv Lochan, Consultant, Multi Organ Transplant Surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals,
said,While organ transplant from deceased donors were increasing, there was still a great need
for organs. Living donation from close family members to save the life of a loved one still
accounts for a majority of transplants performed in India. Several innovative surgical and
medical techniques which have been developed for the Indian scenario, including the

development of bloodless liver transplants, and the use of split organ and dual organ transplants
to optimally utilize organs for the best outcomes. A split organ transplant is one in which a
donated liver is split into two halves and used to transplant into two different patients. A dual
transplant is usually a combined liver and kidney transplant done in the same patient.
Dr Sonal Asthana, Consultant, Multi Organ Transplant Surgeon, BGS Global Hospitals,
discussed the results, "Among the 100 transplants, 64 transplants were from deceased brain dead
donors while 36 were from related living donors. While the majority of transplants were for
adults, 7% were done for children suffering from liver failure. The Global Integrated Liver care
program has the distinction of performing three dual organ transplants. Our overall survival rate
is 92%, which is at par with the best in the world. The team has conducted a study on the Health
related Quality of Life of a patient after Liver transplantation, which has been presented at a
National meeting. This study revealed several limitations due to emotional problems,
Energy/Fatigue, Social functioning and General health before transplant. However, significant
improvements in the quality of life of a transplanted patient were observed within 2 months post
transplantation, which progressively improved as time progressed. Participants described living
productive and meaningful lives and many reported a more positive outlook on life since
transplantation."
Mr Ganesh Kamath, Liver Transplant Survivor, who had received a liver transplant one
years ago, said, Im eternally grateful to the families of all the organ donors who have made this
emotional decision at the deathbed of a loved one to donate their organs, which have benefitted
me, and other patients suffering from terminal liver failure.
Dr Venkatramanaa N K, Vice Chairman& Chief Neurosurgeon, BGS Global Hospitals,
said, At BGS Global Hospitals, we have established an advanced transplant program and have
largely contributed to the concept of cadaveric organ donations and creating mass awareness in
Karnataka. It is a big team work and with the help of multiple agencies, organized Green
Corridors, eventually creating life after death

About BGS Global Hospitals:

BGS Global Hospitals - Super Specialty Quaternary Care, a unit of Global Hospitals Group,
offers comprehensive integrated medical services for all sub specialties and super specialties
with the best teams of clinical talent across disciplines trained in foremost institutions from
across the world. With integrated patient care and accessibility to advanced technology,
expertise, we are delivering exceptional clinical excellence & outcomes. We restore hope of
more than 1,50,000 patients who visit our hospital annually. Today we are one of the premier
health care providers in the country and with our committed vision; we continue to improve with
ground breaking approaches to care and treatment of our patients.