- Such surgery without blood transfusion is extremely rare; expert Dr. Abhishek Yadav and his team saved the patient’s life using advanced techniques amid donor shortage
- Apollomedics’ liver transplant team has successfully performed 20 liver transplants in the past 7 months
TIL Desk Lucknow:
Doctors at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital have set a new benchmark in the medical field by successfully performing a rare and highly challenging liver transplant — without administering a single unit of blood transfusion during the entire surgery.
The 56-year-old patient, who was in critical condition, has been given a new lease on life following the successful procedure. Typically, liver transplant patients require hospitalization for 20 to 25 days post-surgery. However, owing to excellent recovery, this patient was discharged on the 8th day after the operation. Notably, the hospital’s liver transplant team has completed 20 successful liver transplants in the last seven months.
The patient hails from Mainpuri district in Uttar Pradesh and was in a severe condition upon admission. His MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score was 30, indicating critical liver failure and an urgent need for transplantation. To save his life, his 45-year-old wife donated a portion of her liver.
The transplant was successfully performed by Dr. Abhishek Yadav, Senior Director & Head – Liver Transplant, and Dr. Utkarsh Srivastava, Consultant – Liver Transplant, along with their team at Apollomedics Hospital, Lucknow.
Dr. Abhishek Yadav explained that liver transplants generally involve significant blood loss. In most cases, 2 to 3 liters of blood loss is common, requiring multiple units of transfusion. In this particular case, however, adequate blood donors were not available. Anticipating this challenge, the medical team devised a meticulous surgical strategy aimed at minimizing blood loss. Through precise operative techniques and careful management, the surgery was completed without the need for any blood transfusion. The patient is now stable, healthy, and fit for discharge.
He further noted that earlier, arranging 8 to 10 units of blood was considered standard protocol for liver transplant procedures. Performing such a complex surgery without blood transfusion is extremely rare and technically demanding, but with an expert team and advanced surgical management, it can be achieved in select cases. Over the past seven months, Apollomedics Hospital has successfully conducted 20 liver transplants, including several highly complex cases. All patients are currently under follow-up and recovering well.
Commenting on this significant medical achievement, Dr. Mayank Somani, MD & CEO of Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, said, “Liver transplantation is in itself a highly complex surgery that typically requires 8 to 10 units of blood. Successfully completing such a demanding procedure without administering even a single unit of blood is a testament to the exceptional expertise of our surgeons and medical team. This accomplishment reinforces that Apollomedics Hospital offers world-class specialists, infrastructure, and advanced surgical technology. Providing a new life to a critically ill patient without blood transfusion is a matter of immense pride for us. We remain fully committed to delivering safe and superior healthcare services to patients in this region right here in Lucknow.”
