Groundbreaking living liver donor transplant gives man a second chance at PGIMER Chandigarh

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) achieved a significant medical milestone by conducting its first successful living donor liver transplant. The procedure took place on August 7, 2023, involving a 46-year-old male patient from Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the donor was the recipient's wife.

Both the donor and recipient experienced a smooth recovery. They were discharged from the hospital on the seventh day and the 26th postoperative day, specifically on September 2, 2023.

Critical surgery for survival

Dr. Vivek Lal, the director of PGIMER, explained that the patient had been grappling with chronic liver disease for an extended period, with a liver transplant being the only viable option for survival. This patient had been on the waiting list for a transplant for three years. In this critical procedure, the donor, the patient's wife, generously donated 55% of her liver. The operation itself took approximately 12 hours to complete.

The medical team continues to closely monitor the health of the couple through regular follow-up appointments. Additionally, the recipient's immunosuppressant medication is under careful supervision.

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Dr. Lal also emphasized the affordability of such life-saving procedures at PGIMER. While living donor transplants are commonly performed in India to reduce the waiting time for liver transplants, they are often costly, particularly in private hospitals, where the procedure can cost around ₹35 lakh. At PGIMER, the same procedure is available at a significantly lower cost, approximately ₹14 lakh for both the donor and recipient.

Dr. Lal highlighted another milestone at PGIMER – the launch of an exclusive pediatric bone marrow transplant service at Nehru Hospital within the institute. This dedicated service comprises six beds and will be managed by Amita Trehan, who is in charge of pediatrics hematology and oncology within the Department of Pediatrics. The addition of these specialized beds aims to improve healthcare access for children in need of bone marrow transplants and reduce waiting times.

Remarkable achievements in organ transplants

PGIMER is renowned for its organ transplant program, having conducted 4,800 renal transplant surgeries to date. In 2023 alone, the institute surpassed the total number of renal transplant surgeries performed in the previous year, with 225 successful surgeries. Dr. Lal expressed pride in the institute's ability to continually excel in organ transplant procedures.

Additionally, PGIMER achieved another historic feat by becoming the first government hospital in India to successfully conduct clinical trials of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy. CAR-T cell therapy is an innovative cancer immunotherapy treatment that genetically alters T cells to target and destroy cancer cells effectively. The therapy was administered to patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoma, and other forms of leukemia, all of whom demonstrated positive progress following treatment.

Dr. Lal hinted at potential future developments, mentioning the creation of independent departments to enhance patient care. Such independent departments are expected to contribute significantly to PGIMER's mission of providing a robust ecosystem for healthcare.

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In summary, PGIMER's successful living donor liver transplant, commitment to affordable healthcare, introduction of a pediatric bone marrow transplant service, remarkable achievements in organ transplants, and groundbreaking CAR-T cell therapy trials collectively reflect its dedication to advancing medical care and improving patient outcomes.