MGM HEALTHCARE DOCTORS OVERCOME BLOOD GROUP BARRIER IN LIVER TRANSPLANT SURGERY
~New technology brings hope to thousands-
Chennai: (18 May): MGM Healthcare, a leading quaternary care super-specialty hospital announced a rare feat by successfully carrying out a living donor liver transplant on a 45- year-old patient overcoming the challenge of the blood group incompatibility. The 12hr long procedure was led by Dr Thiagarajan Srinivasan, and his team of transplant specialists including Dr Karthik Mathivanan & Lead Anaesthetists Dr Dinesh and Dr Nivash.
ABO incompatibility between a donor and a recipient is generally considered a barrier to kidney or liver trans plant. The doctors at MGM Healthcare by employing a new technology in the form of using a highly selective bl ood group antibody absorption device (glycosorb) in a series of four patients. The patient Unnikrishnan from Ke rala had developed chronic liver failure was waiting for a liver transplant for more than three years after vis iting several hospitals in India. With a huge demand supply mismatch Unnikrishnan was not able to get a suitable cad averic organ and further to his dismay there was no blood group compatible living donor in his family.
Dr Thiagarajan Srinivasan, Director institute of liver transplant and HPB surgery who headed the multidiscipli nary team of doctors at MGM Healthcare said, “This opens hope for the many who have been wai ting for trans plants and is also paving way for faster recovery. Our team had a cumulative experience of more than 40 such liver transplants across blood groups but there were multiple challenges in the form of increased infections and rejections. But after employing the new technology in the form of using a highly selective blood group antibody absorption device glycosorb the results were excellent.
He further said the facilities and resources required for performing these complex protocols are not commonly available even in best of centres and can be only performed in advanced centres where specialized liver spe cialties are available.
Explaining the procedure, Dr Thiagarajan said first we stop the production of new blood group antibodies by rituximab and removal of existing blood group antibodies with the glycosorb filter and using specialized ind uction agent(basiliximab) and living donor liver transplant is performed with a blood group incompatible donor and successfully followed up lifelong.
Dr Karthik Mathivanan, Senior Consultant & Associate Director Institute of Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery said, “Liver Transplantation is the best and only option for a patient who is diagnosed with either end-stage liver cirrhosis or cancer. Unfortunately, there is a huge divide between the demand for donor liver and liver donation so we face a shortage of organs. Yet, with advancements in the field, transplantation using ABO-incompatible (ABOi) grafts – is an alternate strategy for increasing donor availability.”
“At MGM Healthcare, Chennai, the Institute of Liver diseases, Transplant and HPB Team has so far performed 4 ABOi Liver transplants successfully using the new technology within 1 yr. ABOi transplants are not just for the liver but for kidneys too. ABOi transplantation has become possible in Chennai now and it is affordable to peo ple from all walks of life.” He further added.
Lead Anaesthetists Dr Dinesh and Dr Nivash said, “Anaesthesia risks are high in live liver transplant. But having a carefully coordinated plan with innovative solutions for complex problems and optimising the patient well bef ore and during surgery has helped in the successful outcome.”
Harish Manian, CEO MGM Healthcare said, “The recent advancements in technology have led to successful out comes in the field of transplant surgery with ABO incompatibility. MGM Healthcare is proud to have adopted such techniques coupled with clinical expertise of renowned doctors who perform such feat of cutting-edge su rgeries with a cost assurance programme from us. MGM Healthcare by employing a new cutting edge technol ogy in the form using a highly selective blood group antibody absorption device will continue to render more quality healthcare services at MGM Healthcare”.
About MGM Healthcare
Born out of a need for altruism, MGM Healthcare is dedicated to bettering patient experiences and improving clinical outcomes through expertise, passion, and technology. The manifestation of this dedication is a state-of-the-art hospital on Nelson Manickam Road having 400 beds, 50 outpatient consultation rooms, over 100 critical care beds, 250+ doctors, 30+ clinical departments, 12 state-of-the-art operating theatres and 24×7 comprehen sive Emergency Care. Here, a host of eminent surgeons and physicians wield a potent combination of skill and cutting-edge technology to elevate care and outcomes to new levels. MGM Healthcare is currently Asia’s hig hest-rated USGBC LEED Platinum-certified Green Hospital.
Over the past year, the team of clinical experts at MGM Healthcare have performed many innovative and co mplex surgeries in the pursuit of establishing trust and clinical excellence. MGM Healthcare is designed and equipped with the latest in technology and equipment and is poised to drive patient centricity and clinical excellence of both the domestic and international patients.
