Minimally Invasive Liver Transplant Surgery in Chennai

Here is a complete guide to know about minimally invasive liver transplant surgery. It gives complete details about the procedure, who needs it, its risks, and benefits. A minimally invasive liver transplant surgery is done to remove the diseased liver and replace it with a healthy liver.

The liver is the largest organ performing vital functions in the body. It helps filter toxins, produce essential nutrients, aid digestion, and regulate blood sugar levels. A minimally invasive liver transplant at Gleneagles Hospital is a ground-breaking surgery for liver transplantation. It is a less invasive approach used to remove the diseased liver and replace it with a healthy one. In this article, you will learn everything about minimally invasive liver transplant surgery in Chennai.

A minimally invasive liver transplant surgery is a less invasive technique for liver transplantation, which is done by making small incisions through a camera and small surgical instruments. It is useful for living donor liver transplants, where a part of the liver is transplanted from a living donor to the recipient.

Types of liver transplant

A liver transplant can be classified into two main types:

• Deceased Donor Liver Transplant: In this type, a liver segment is taken from an organ donor who is brain-dead due to a traumatic injury.
• Living Donor Liver Transplant: In this type, a healthy individual donates part of the liver to a recipient. The liver can regenerate which helps both donor’s and recipient’s liver to grow back in a few months after surgery. A living donor is generally a relative of the recipient. 

A minimally invasive liver transplant is not recommended for everyone. The right candidates for this technique include:

• Patients suffering from liver failure or liver cirrhosis who require a living donor transplant.
• People suffering from liver carcinoma may require a liver transplant.
• Patients with extreme obesity may need liver transplants due to limited feasibility.
• People who have gone through previous abdominal surgeries may need a liver transplant to avoid complications.

A liver transplant from a living donor using a minimally invasive approach involves two procedures:

• Donor Surgery (Partial Liver removal using robotic-assisted or laparoscopic technique)

The surgeon will prepare the donor to remove a part of the liver. It is done using robotic-assisted or laparoscopic techniques. Generally, the left or right lobe is removed)

The doctor will make small incisions, and a small tube with an attached camera on one side will be inserted through one incision to get a high-definition and magnified view of the liver.

The segment of the donor’s liver is separated carefully from blood vessels and bile ducts using robotic or laparoscopic tools.

Another small incision is made to remove the liver graft.

The donor’s liver will regenerate in 6-8 weeks, thus restoring normal liver function.

• Recipient Surgery (Liver transplant using minimally invasive technique)

Before surgery, the doctor will do a thorough evaluation of the patient by imaging and blood tests to ensure that the patient is fit for surgery. If a living donor is available, he will also undergo evaluation for compatibility and overall health.

The surgeon and his team plan the procedure to ensure accuracy. On the day of surgery, anesthesia is given to the patient and the team prepares all tools and instruments for the surgery and ensures that everything is sterile and working properly.

The surgeon will make small incisions in the abdomen to insert laparoscopic or robotic instruments.

The diseased part of the liver is removed while taking care of essential blood vessels.
The liver segment obtained from the donor is carefully implanted and connected to the recipient’s blood vessels and bile ducts.

The doctors use advanced imaging techniques and robotic tools to ensure smooth vascular and biliary reconnection.

The surgeon will place a small drainage tube to remove excess fluid. It is for a limited period. 
After the procedure, the patient is shifted to the ICU for monitoring and recovery.

• Recovery After a Minimally Invasive Liver Transplant

After a minimally invasive liver transplant, the patient has to stay in the hospital for 7-10 days. The doctor will prescribe pain medications to manage pain and discomfort after surgery. The patient is advised to walk slowly after 1-2 days of surgery, and the patient can return to normal activities in 2-4 weeks.

The dietician prescribes a diet chart to follow after the liver transplant. Usually, a diet including high protein, low-fat foods is recommended for liver regeneration and quick recovery. The patient should drink plenty of water and other fluids to support kidney function and it also helps in quick recovery.

It is important to get quality sleep after surgery to repair tissue repair and support overall recovery. The patient should sleep for up to 8 hours daily to support the healing process. The patient has to visit the hospital for a regular check-up to monitor liver function and prevent rejection.

The patient has to take immunosuppressive medicines for the rest of their life to prevent organ rejection. But, the recipient can live a normal and active life after the liver transplant. 

Minimally invasive liver transplantation has several benefits as compared to open surgery:

• The doctor makes smaller incisions, which produce less visible scars.
• The patient will experience less post-operative discomfort and pain which helps in quick recovery.
• There is a lower risk of infection due to small incisions and reduced exposure to external pollutants.
• The patient can recover quickly after a minimally invasive liver transplant surgery and has to stay for fewer days in the hospital.
• There is less blood loss, and needs less blood transfusions.
• There are less surgical risks involved with the minimally invasive liver transplant surgery.
• Patients can resume daily activities within 2-4 weeks after minimally invasive liver transplant surgery.
• Most patients and donors can live a normal and healthy life after surgery.

MILT also has some risks involved with any kind of surgery. Some challenges and limitations associated with MILT include:

• All patients are not eligible for MILT and may require traditional open surgery.
• It is done with esteemed precision, and the duration of surgery may increase.
• Minimally invasive liver transplantation can only be done using special equipment and trained specialists. Therefore, highly trained liver transplant surgeons are required to perform the procedure.
• There is a risk of complications such as bleeding, vascular problems, and bile leaks. However, the risk is lower as compared to open surgery.
• The success rate and outcomes are greater than the open surgery.

Gleneagles Hospital is a leading hospital known for liver transplantation. It is the best hospital for liver transplant surgery in Chennai. The reasons to choose Gleneagles Hospital for liver transplant surgery include:

• Highly experienced and dedicated liver transplant surgeons: The hospital has a team of highly experienced liver transplant surgeons who are experts in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted transplant techniques.
• Multidisciplinary approach: The hospital uses a multidisciplinary approach. The hospital has a team of hepatologists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, dieticians, and physiotherapists to provide comprehensive patient care and faster recovery.
• State-of-the-art infrastructure: The hospital is well equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for liver transplant surgery in Chennai. The hospital has well-equipped labs, surgery rooms, recovery rooms, 3D imaging, robotic surgical systems, and high-definition laparoscopes.
• Insurance facilities: The hospital also provides insurance facilities to the patients. The surgery can be covered by most health insurance policies to ease the financial burden. 

In conclusion, minimally invasive liver transplant surgery is a revolutionary technique that helps people experience less pain, quick recovery, and better outcomes as compared to open surgery. All patients are not eligible for this technique. But you can visit the Gleneagles Hospitals for minimally invasive liver transplant surgery to meet with the expert team and get a thorough evaluation of your case. The hospital provides world-class expertise, cutting-edge technology, and comprehensive patient care.