KOCHI: A reunion of liver recipients and donors will be held at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) at 10 am on July 29, on the 10th anniversary of the liver transplant unit at the hospital. Health Minister V S Sivakumar, actor Mohanlal and Hibi Eden MLA will be present on the occasion.
AIMS medical director Dr Prem Nair said that the liver transplant unit completed 10 years, and that 325 transplants were conducted during the period. Liver transplantation is the only treatment modality available for patients suffering from acute or chronic liver failure.
“Unlike kidney failure, in which the alternative treatment option of dialysis is available, there is not any alternative method to keep liver patients alive for long periods. Over the past several years, the survival rate after liver transplantation has increased remarkably,” Dr Nair said. “Currently, around 80-90 per cent of the patients survive liver transplantation surgery, and lead normal life after that. The survival rate in Kerala is at par with international standards,” he said.
He pointed out that in Kerala, the first liver transplantation was performed at AIMS, in June 2004, which was transplant from a cadaveric donor. Of the total of 325 transplants, 32 were done from brain-dead donors and 293 from live donors.
“Of the 325 transplants, 58 were done for acute liver failure, wherein the work up of the donors and recipients were completed within 24 hours. There were 32 pediatric transplants, with the youngest patient being a 5-month-old baby. In the past one year, the AIMS-team has performed 85 liver transplants,” Dr Nair noted. “Recently, many individuals and organisations from across the State have come forward supporting organ donation. The initiatives taken by the government in this regard is highly remarkable,” he pointed out.