One organ donor, another recipient patient is a very common phenomenon in medical science.
For the first time, the surgeons at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here have transplanted dual lobe liver (two donors) into one patient with 126 kg body weight and battling chronic liver failure for a long time.

In a remarkable display of courage and medical innovation, the 20 experts of Digestive Science and Organ transplant surgeons have accomplished the first-ever dual lobe liver transplant for liver failure in Rajasthan, Dr Naimish N Mehta, renowned Transplant Surgeon and Chairman Centre for Digestive Sciences told a press conference here today.

Dr Naimish said, “This historic procedure offers renewed hope to patients like Indra Pal, a 50-year-old man weighing a whopping 126 kgs battling chronic liver failure, and underscores the power of resilience and familial support in the face of adversity”.

Dr Naimish who introduced the two donors and patient to the media said, Indra Pal’s journey to recovery began when he was admitted to with advanced liver failure, necessitating a life-saving liver transplant.

However, the challenge arose in finding a suitable donor liver of adequate size for transplantation. Mrs. Taravati, Indra Pal’s wife, offered a portion of her liver for donation. However, her partial liver alone was insufficient for transplantation for his weight. This procedure becomes necessary in situations where a portion of the liver from a single living donor is insufficient for the patient’s needs and if the adequate volume is not implanted it becomes detrimental for the recipient’s health.

In such cases, a groundbreaking solution emerges—two different individuals contribute parts of their livers, which are then skilfully joined in a single patient. This transformative approach not only addresses the intricacies of organ compatibility but also provides a renewed chance of cure for those facing otherwise limited options, according to Dr Naimish who has performed over 2000 successful liver transplants.

“This dual lobe liver transplant represents a major breakthrough in our mission to enhance patient outcomes in liver transplantation,” remarked Dr. Naimish claiming, “Through innovative surgical techniques and advancements in transplant medicine, we are able to offer a lifeline to patients grappling with end-stage liver disease.”

The major surgery and procedure done late last month continued for 18 hours by a team of 20 experts and surgeons of the concerned fields.

Dr M L Swarankar, MGMCH’s founder and first test baby surgeon of Rajasthan, said the meticulous optimization of both the donors and the recipient was conducted under the watchful care of our in-house Hepatologist, Dr. Karan Kumar and whose attentive expertise ensured a seamless transition into the operating room, setting the stage for a meticulously executed procedure led by the skilled hands of Dr. Mehta and his surgical team.