Manipal Hospitals Bangalore performed a life saving Liver Transplant on two patients from West Bengal namely Alpona Saha and Swadin Sarkar. The surgery was done by Dr Ravichand Siddachari, Consultant, Surgical Gastroenterologist and Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon, Manipal Hospitals and his team of doctors.

A press meet was organized to make the people aware of this feat and also to make them conscious about liver diseases. This was attended by Dr. Siddachari and the two patients.

Alpona Saha was suffering from malignant hemangioendothelioma, a rare liver cancer. She took chemotherapy in Mumbai and then went to Manipal Hospitals for further treatment. After diagnosing her case, the doctors said that Liver Transplantation was the solution. She received the liver from a brain dead young man. And after the surgery, she is completely fine.

Swadin Sarkar meanwhile had liver cirrhosis, jaundice and fluid accumulation in the stomach. He did not smoke or drink but he had cirrhosis of the liver. He was fortunate enough to receive the liver from a brain dead patient. Now he is perfectly fit and he traveled for 300 kilometres to reach Kolkata to come for the check-up.

Dr. Siddachari mentioned the fact that organ donation awareness is not there in India. This must be increased so that people in need of organs can get that and survive. Liver is one organ in the body which grows and so donating a part of it is not much of a big deal. He also highlighted on the fact that sedentary lifestyle, consuming fast food are all leading to development of fatty liver. This in turn is leading to liver diseases.

So with a little bit of awareness, liver diseases can be avoided and one can lead a healthy life!!

Priyanka Dutta