Did AIIMS Bhubaneswar Achieve a Milestone with Its First Liver Transplant?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bhubaneswar, Dec 31 (NationPress) In a remarkable achievement, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has successfully executed its inaugural liver transplant, a significant milestone for this esteemed medical institution, as stated by Prof. (Dr) Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday.
During a press conference, Dr. Biswas expressed great enthusiasm regarding this accomplishment. He mentioned that the donor has been discharged without any complications, while the recipient is showing promising recovery and is anticipated to be released in the coming days.
“This was a complex procedure as it was the first liver transplant at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Nevertheless, our team of doctors, surgeons, and support staff were well-prepared and confident,” remarked Dr. Biswas.
The surgery, which took place on December 20, was performed on a patient experiencing liver failure, followed by rigorous overnight monitoring by a dedicated team of specialists.
As of eleven days post-surgery, both the donor and the recipient are reported to be stable. The liver transplant recipient, a 37-year-old from Pipili in Puri District, Odisha, is recovering well.
The donor, a 30-year-old male and brother of the recipient, generously donated a portion of his liver out of love, without any financial or material compensation.
According to Dr. Biswas, the surgical team, consisting of over 50 members, completed the operation in 14 hours.
Dr. Biswas emphasized that this success was due to the collaborative efforts across various departments, including Gastro Surgery, Gastroenterology, Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Nursing, Pathology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Transfusion teams, alongside skilled support and technical staff.
He also appreciated the backing from the Ministry of Health, senior officials, and the administrative leadership of the institute.
To bolster the transplant program, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has set up a specialized transplant ICU and a state-of-the-art transplant operation theatre.
This procedure is available under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, alleviating the financial burden on patients.
The institute aspires to provide liver transplant services to those from Odisha and surrounding states.
This accomplishment heralds the commencement of specialized liver transplant services at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, bringing new hope to individuals in need of advanced liver care in the region.
It's worth noting that the Liver Transplant Outpatient Department (OPD) at AIIMS Bhubaneswar commenced operations on February 21, 2025. Furthermore, a highly advanced 10-bedded transplant ICU has been fully operational since November 2025.
To ensure excellence and sustainable capacity building, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi, the country's premier public sector institute focused solely on liver and biliary diseases.