Illustration: P.K. Job.
May 1, 2012 By Vidyashree Dharmaraj
The waiting list for those wanting to undergo liver transplant seems to be endless with lack of awareness among living donors and absence of medical facilities.
The number of deaths related to liver disease has gone up by 25 per cent which is a record high, says Prof Dr Mohammed Rela, an authority on liver transplant.
He attributes this alarming increase to heavy drinking, obesity, besides Hepatitis B- and C-related liver diseases. Even as surgical care is lacking in India, Tamil Nadu has to its credit 150 transplants of which 120 are from live donors.
The need for live donors has gained significance because of the insufficient availability of cadavers for donation.
Stating that India is growing rapidly in terms of liver transplant with living donors, he said the West has been largely using organs from cadavers.
Elaborating, he said transplanting by means of a living donor originated in the East as it was not part of their tradition to donate the organs of the dead.
Tamil Nadu has to its credit 150 cadaver transplants performed in the last two years, which is way ahead of the national average.
But, unfortunately, the state requires at least 1,000 donors a year, he said, and added that Coimbatore district alone needs at least 250 liver donors annually.
Even as the living donor transplant technique is complex, India is now in a position to teach the West its expertise, said Dr K. Ravindranath, chairman and managing director of Global Hospital Group, Chennai.
On the male-female ratio pertaining to liver diseases, he said it is more common among men, and added that there were several children who could survive only by liver transplants.
However, only 3 per cent of those having liver problems will undergo liver transplant, he said.
Calling for a change in lifestyle, he said poor diet, including excess intake of fat, carbohydrates and lack of exercise added to excessive alcohol intake may end in chronic liver diseases.
With a view to facilitating liver transplants in Coimbatore, Global Health City, Chennai, and Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital have entered into a partnership to provide transplant facilities at affordable rates.
Dr K. Ravindranath, chairman and managing director, Global Hospital Group, said that Global Health in Chennai offers liver, pancreas transplantation for related diseases.
The aim of the facility in KMCH is to provide quality health care in Hepatobiliary and liver transplant facilities wherein specialists from Global Health City will visit KMCH on a weekly basis for one day OPD clinics, he said.
Dr Nalla G Palaniswami, chairman, Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, said that the exchange of knowledge will be provided through scientific programmes and high end, complex surgeries will be referred to the Global Health City which has a comprehensive set up for organ transplant.
Organ donation related counseling will also be provided to patients or relatives, especially if a patient is declared brain dead.
The Chennai centre will also provide logistics to KMCH for timely organ retrieval. Further training will be provided to KMCH staff as per protocols accepted under the laws of the State, he added.
If the proposed air ambulance comes through, then treatment within the golden hour which is limited by the distance factor will be resolved.
With all the hospitals in Coimbatore showing concerted interest in air ambulance, the dream will come true, he said.
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