Udupi: Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, a teaching hospital of KMC and a constituent unit of MAHE, has successfully performed the first deceased donor liver transplant in Udupi. Amid profound personal loss, a bereaved family chose to donate their loved one’s organs, offering another patient a renewed chance at life.The recipient, a 56-year-old man diagnosed with advanced chronic liver disease and portal hypertension, underwent detailed multidisciplinary evaluation under the deceased donor transplant programme. Following careful planning and organ allocation protocols, he underwent a complex liver transplant surgery. Postoperatively, he was managed in the dedicated transplant ICU with structured monitoring and protocol-driven care. His recovery progressed steadily, and he was discharged in stable condition. Dr Shiran Shetty, professor, department of gastroenterology & hepatology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, and his team carried out the initial evaluation, which showed that the patient’s liver disease progressed to a stage where a transplant was the best option for survival and long-term recovery. He told reporters on Wednesday, that understanding the urgency, he referred the patient to the transplant team led by Dr Jayanth Reddy, lead consultant–HPB & liver and pancreatic transplant surgery. The procedure involved a highly coordinated multidisciplinary team, including Dr Bharath Kumar Bhat and his team, along with the ICU team at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Dr Shetty said, “Early recognition and timely referral play a critical role in managing advanced liver disease. We ensured that he was promptly evaluated and referred to the transplant team in Bengaluru, led by Dr Jayanth Reddy. The successful outcome reflects the strength of multidisciplinary collaboration and the growing availability of advanced transplant care for patients within coastal Karnataka, bringing world-class care closer to people.” Dr Jayanth Reddy, lead consultant – HPB & liver and pancreatic transplant surgery, said, “This case was highly complex and required meticulous planning, precise surgical execution, and strong coordination across multiple teams. The case highlights how timely organ donation can transform lives. We are now able to offer advanced liver transplant care closer to patients in coastal Karnataka, reducing the need for them to travel long distances during critical times.” The liver transplant programme at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, in association with Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, enables patients from Udupi and neighbouring districts to access advanced transplant care closer to home.
