In a fascinating tale of medical accomplishment, collaborative generosity, and fate, two women provided each other's husbands a new lease on life. The women donated a part of their liver each to the other's husband, both of whom were struggling with end-stage liver disease.
Both transplants were performed simultaneously and took up to 10 hours, resulting in a successful operation that saved the life of both men. Explaining the case, Dr Gaurav Chaubal, Director of Liver, Pancreas, Intestine Transplant Program, and HPB Surgery, Global Hospitals, Parel, Dr Uday Sanglodkar, Senior Consultant Hepatologist and Clinical lead liver and transplant ICU, Global Hospitals, Parel, Dr Ameet Mandot, HOD - Clinical lead Adult Hepatology and Liver transplant, Global Hospitals Parel Mumbai, and Dr Vivek Talaulikar, COO, IHH Healthcare India, spoke to the team of OnlyMyHealth.
The Case Of Two Men Suffering From Liver Failure
The swap liver transplant was conducted at Global Hospitals in Parel, Mumbai. The two men from Akola came from diverse backgrounds, were battling end-stage liver disease, and had been waiting for a transplant for 1 year.
The two patients who had to undergo the transplant were Ramdas Chavan and Dinesh Sarode. Chavan, 61-year-old from Amravati, Maharashtra was suffering from diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, interstitial lung disease, ascites buildup and hepatitis C. This cocktail of illness led him to develop end-stage liver disease (liver failure), seriously impeding his daily life. The other patient, Sarode, a 41-year-old, had a history of hepatitis B causing liver failure.
“Their wives were eager to donate part of their livers but following a thorough recipient and donor evaluation, their partners' blood types did not match, making their wives incompatible for the transplants," said Dr Chaubal.
Dr Sanglodkar said, "One patient was A blood group and the second was B blood group. None of them had the same blood group in the family." It was decided then that the couples were ideal for a swap transplant."
Swap Transplant Offers Hope
The Transplantation Society defines swap transplant as a procedure in which the first patient’s close family member donates their organs (a kidney or part of the liver) to the second patient in need. In return, the second patient’s relatives donate their organs to the first patient. Their study labelled a swap transplant, that involves conducting 4 operations together, a Herculean effort.
"There is always a scarcity of eligible donors in liver transplantation causing mortality in patients with advanced liver disease. Swap transplantation is an excellent way to add to the donor pool and benefit more patients," said Dr Mandot.
"Chavan's wife donated a portion of her liver to Shinde, while Dinesh's wife donated her liver to patient Ramdas. The two transplants were carried out concurrently for 10 hours on the donors and recipients. The recipients were discharged in 14 days while the donor was discharged in 7 days," added Dr Chaubal.
"Due to advances in liver transplant, a swap transplant is possible now. Both the patients were critically ill and required frequent hospitalisations. Both patients had a straightforward postoperative course after the transplant.
Both the couples are back to their normal happy lives, expressing their gratitude to each other for this life-saving act of organ donation. Dr Talaulikar concluded, “The success of this swap transplant underscores the need to address critical healthcare needs on a global scale. As organ donation rates are still low in the country, innovative strategies like swap transplants offer hope for patients and their families who are desperately awaiting life-saving procedures.”
This remarkable story of a liver swap transplant showcases the incredible advancements in modern healthcare. It highlights the selfless generosity of people willing to undergo such complex procedures to save the lives of loved ones. This true story also underscores the critical need for organ donation, emphasising how one act of kindness can create a ripple effect of life-saving opportunities for those in dire need. Ultimately, this extraordinary tale serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact of human compassion and the vital importance of supporting organ donation initiatives worldwide.