5-Month-Old Baby Undergoes Successful Liver Transplant at Manipal Hospital Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Manipal Hospital- South Asian Liver Institute Partnership, once again leads the way, this time in Paediatric transplantation. Over the last 2 years, this programme has completed 10 Liver transplants in children, with an over 90% success rate.

Renowned Liver Surgeon Prof Dr Tom Cherian, Head of the Liver Transplant programme, said, “Performing liver transplants in children requires a higher level of expertise in operative surgery, liver anaesthesia, & paediatric intensive care. Hardly 5-7 such good centres exist in the whole country, and I am happy that now Andhra can also boast of one”.

Prof. Cherian, who has pioneered several liver transplants in the region—including the first liver transplant in Andhra Pradesh and the first at Osmania Hospital, was also the surgeon behind the then smallest-ever liver transplant in Hyderabad seven years ago.

In this recent case, the liver donated by the mother had to be specially modified, as the baby’s abdomen was too small to accept it in its original form. This technically complex surgery underscores the calibre of the team.

“This successful transplant in a five-month-old baby highlights the growing need for specialised paediatric liver care,” said Dr. Rajesh Chandra, Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital Vijayawada.

He further emphasised, “Children with congenital liver disease deteriorate rapidly, and early diagnosis with timely transplant can be life-saving. This case reflects our commitment to advancing paediatric liver transplantation in the region.”

Dr. Rajesh Bathina, Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, added, “Close collaboration between the gastroenterology and surgical teams is essential. We work closely from the point of diagnosis to post-operative care to ensure long-term transplant success and patient safety.”

Started in 2022, the Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada- South Asian Liver Surgery Programme has been the number one centre for Liver Transplantation in the state for the last 2 years. “One other child is worth special mention because he was said to have an inoperable cancer, called Hepatoblastoma- which had spread to all parts of the liver. But with a combination of chemotherapy and transplantation, we were able to cure that child”, said Prof Tom Cherian.

The other members of the team include senior paediatricians Dr Ravikumar & Dr Uday Bethapudi, and Intensivists Dr Dinesh Gontla & Dr Arvind Gogineni who were all instrumental in the success of these transplants. The above doctors & the Gastro- enterology team of Dr Rajesh Bathina & Dr Rajesh Chandra work very closely with Prof Cherian’s surgical team to create a highly skilled TRANSPLANT GROUP.

Some of the children who underwent a liver transplant here were very complicated and had been refused transplantation elsewhere, which showcases the experience of the team of over 800 liver transplants. One of the children had a portal vein thrombosis, which required a complex surgical procedure called an interposition graft.

In addition to the transplants, it is important to note that other complex diseases of the liver were also looked after here, including splenorenal shunts and other things.

The parents’ comments were revealing. “We could see that our son was deteriorating, and WE had lost hope that our child could live. Our friends in Rayalsemma had told us about Prof Cherian, and we came looking for him. When we met, Prof Cherian filled us with confidence, and other members of his team were fantastic in their dedication and skill, and we are very grateful to get our son back”, remarked the father.

Mr Ramanjaneya Reddy, Hospital Director at Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, remarked, “Manipal Hospital- South Asian Liver Institute Partnership, at Vijayawada, has been serving the people of coastal Andhra Pradesh for the last 3 years and even within this short period, Manipal Hospital has established itself as a Centre of Excellence for Liver disease. We performed 100+ liver transplants in the state last year, andthe number of liver transplants in children as well. This case was supported by CMRF and Manipal Foundation. We thank the Government and Manipal Foundation for helping the family financially”.

As these patients are easing back into normal life, the team at Manipal Hospital Vijayawada remains dedicated in supporting their health and well-being. The successful initiation of ERAS underscores the hospital’s leadership in paediatric and transplant medicine, offering hope to many more families in need.