Pune: In a remarkable display of medical excellence and compassion, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH) has successfully performed a split liver transplant, offering a new lease of life to two patients through a single deceased organ donor.
The split liver transplant procedure enabled doctors to divide the donated liver into two functional grafts. One portion was transplanted into a six-year-old girl, while the remaining segment was successfully transplanted into a 58-year-old male patient at DMH.
Both recipients are currently recovering well under close medical supervision following the split liver transplant.
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A split liver transplant is considered one of the most advanced procedures in transplant surgery. It involves carefully dividing a deceased donor’s liver into two viable parts, typically allowing simultaneous transplantation into a child and an adult.
The liver’s unique regenerative capability ensures that both recipients can regain full liver function over time. This complex split liver transplant requires exceptional surgical precision, advanced imaging systems, state-of-the-art operation theatres, and seamless coordination among multidisciplinary teams.
Speaking about the procedure, Dr Ninad Deshmukh, Consultant Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Intestinal Transplant Surgeon and Hepatobiliary Surgeon at DMH, highlighted the significance of the split liver transplant.
“Split liver transplantation is one of the most advanced procedures in transplant surgery. In this technique, a deceased donor’s liver is carefully divided into two fully functional grafts, usually allowing us to help both, a child and an adult.
The adult recipient was admitted to DMH. He was diagnosed with chronic liver disease due to recurrent cholangitis and cholestatic liver disease.
The 6-year-old recipient was diagnosed with acute liver failure and received the liver in time, which saved her life in an otherwise high-mortality situation,” said Dr Deshmukh.
In this case, the young patient received the split liver from DMH, while the transplant surgery for the child was conducted at another Pune-based hospital, demonstrating coordinated efforts across institutions in executing the split liver transplant.
The multidisciplinary transplant team at DMH played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the split liver transplant.
The team included Dr Sachin Palnitkar, Consultant Hepatologist, Gastroenterologist and Liver Transplant Physician; transplant anaesthesia specialists Dr Sujit Saraf and Dr Sagar Bandhiste; Transplant Intensivist Dr Prasad Akole; along with the nursing staff.
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Split Liver Transplant: Transformative Impact of Organ Donation
Dr Prasad Rajhans provided counselling and support to the donor’s family during the organ donation process.
The organs were donated by the family of a 34-year-old patient who was declared brain dead. In a selfless and compassionate decision taken during a time of immense grief, the family consented to organ donation, ultimately saving four lives. Along with the split liver transplant, both kidneys and corneas were successfully retrieved and transplanted.
The hospital’s robust transplant infrastructure and adherence to stringent safety protocols ensured optimal outcomes for both donors and recipients undergoing the split liver transplant.
This milestone underscores the growing capabilities in organ transplantation in Pune and highlights the transformative impact of organ donation.
The successful transplant demonstrates how one generous decision can save multiple lives and strengthen the healthcare ecosystem.
