KIMS hospital successfully completed its first liver transplant surgery, thus reportedly becoming the first hospital in South Kerala to perform this type of intensive procedure. The 43-year old patient, Meenakshi Sundarmurthi from Tirupur, who was suffering from chronic liver disease, underwent the 12-hour surgery on the July 20, and was reported to be recovering well.
The liver was harvested from a 30-year old patient who was admitted with severe injuries to a private hospital in the city after an accident in Tamil Nadu and was later declared brain dead. The deceased’s relatives shared their willingness for organ donation and this set the wheels rolling for performing the first liver transplant in KIMS. The information regarding the availability of the healthy liver was shared with the Kerala Network of Organ Sharing who identified Sundarmurthi as undergoing treatment at KIMS and seeking a B+ve liver.
The legal formalities for approving the transplant were carried out by the nodal officer Dr Noble Grace and officials at KIMS Hospital. The patient was admitted at KIMS early on the day of the operation and KIMS’ team of experts under the leadership of Liver Transplant Surgeon, Dr Venugopal, travelled to the hospital where the donor had been prepared for organ harvesting. The liver was successfully harvested and the team returned immediately to KIMS where in the meantime Sundarmurthi had been fully prepped for the surgery. The transplant was successfully accomplished in 12 hours. Sundarmurthi was discharged on the tenth day following the operation.
KIMS liver transplantation unit boasts of a complete multidisciplinary set up confirming to international standards. The unit is led by experts trained in some of the best liver transplant centres in India and abroad. There is an excellent blood bank with 24 hour apharesis facility, advanced laboratory and microbiology (infection control) support, advanced cardiology, DSA and interventional radiology, ultrasonology, 64 slice CT scanner, MRI, and nephrology (including 24 hour dialysis and CVVHD) facilities.
EH News Bureau