Liver Transplant in India - Not Only an Operation but a Process

Liver Transplantation is not just an operation its a process and a beginning of a new relationship which is between the patient, theLiver transplant team and the transplant institute. As we all know that, to maintain a healthy relationship we need purity, dedication and transparency from both sides – Health care workers as well as the patient and his family. And one should pledge to maintain this relationship.

Shortage of organs, immediate finances, lack of pre and post transplant education, failure to understand pre transplant management in detail, pros and cons of liver transplant, life long medication, post transplant life, effect of transplant children and donor safety are the major patient issues.

A new organ gives new life but only well-informed execution can optimize the chances of success to the satisfaction of patient and the family. It is important that the patient and care givers are fully guided and educated regarding the process to prepare themselves for this major undertaking. This precisely where the role of experienced coordinator matters most to facilitate solving minor and major problems that may creep up before, during and after the operation. This can be done through education and counselling sessions, group interactions and guidance. In my considerable experience, I have had occasions of dealing with the patients and families of the patients with liver failure who resign themselves to death even when some of them can be saved by timely emergency liver transplantation. A majority of them have no way of getting timely, reliable, round the clock information. Drawing from my experience with over 50 such cases, we provide a 24 hrs helpline - +91 – 9266882222 service to answer queries, educate, counsel and motivate such patients who can be saved by liver transplantation if they arrive in time. All these issues need to be reinforced repeatedly by transplant coordinator to keep the family vigilant and motivated life long. Apart from education Transplant Registry has become a necessity if we intent to create a patient centric synergies. Every developed country has Transplant Registry which maintains records of patient with organ failure on waiting list, updates their health status regularly, number of transplants done every year, type of transplants done every year – whether living or cadaveric, result of transplant, immediate survival rate, so that a patient is fully aware of the actual scenario of livertransplant in India before taking this major decision i.e. Liver transplant. After this a patient and his family cannot blame any doctor, institute in any phase of transplant.