Split Liver Transplant in Kochi

A split liver transplant is an advanced transplantation technique in which a suitable deceased donor liver is divided into two portions so that it can potentially be transplanted into two recipients. Depending on donor anatomy and recipient requirements, a smaller portion may be suitable for a child or smaller recipient while the larger portion may be transplanted into an appropriately selected adult recipient.Split liver transplantation requires careful donor selection, advanced liver surgery expertise and precise evaluation of blood vessels, bile ducts, liver volume and recipient requirements.

How Does Split Liver Transplantation Work?

After a suitable deceased donor liver is identified, the transplant team evaluates whether the liver can safely and appropriately be divided. The liver may be separated into anatomically functional sections while maintaining adequate:

• Arterial blood supply
• Portal venous supply
• Venous drainage
• Biliary drainage
• Functional liver volume

Each liver graft is then transplanted into a carefully selected recipient. Not every donor liver is suitable for splitting, and the final decision depends on donor organ quality, anatomy and recipient requirements.

Complex Liver Transplantation

Some patients present with particularly challenging liver diseases or surgical anatomy and may require advanced transplant planning. Complex cases may include patients with:

• Previous major abdominal surgery
• Portal vein thrombosis or vascular abnormalities
• Complex biliary anatomy
• Previous liver surgery
• Advanced liver disease with multiple complications
• Significant portal hypertension
• Selected liver tumours
• Complex donor-recipient anatomical considerations
• High-risk medical conditions requiring multidisciplinary optimisation

These patients require detailed imaging, multidisciplinary planning and close coordination between hepatology, transplant surgery, anaesthesia, radiology and critical care teams.

Multidisciplinary Planning for Complex Liver Transplants

Before proceeding with complex transplantation, specialists review the patient's clinical condition, imaging and surgical risk. Treatment planning may involve hepatologists, transplant surgeons, hepatobiliary surgeons, interventional radiologists, anaesthesiologists, intensivists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, nephrologists and infectious disease specialists. This coordinated approach enables potential risks to be identified and managed before, during and after transplantation.

Advanced Transplant Infrastructure at Apollo Adlux Hospital

Complex liver transplantation at Apollo Adlux Hospital is supported by:

• Dedicated Twin Transplant Theatres
• Advanced surgical and anaesthesia systems
• Specialised transplant critical care
• 24/7 intensivist monitoring
• Advanced radiology and diagnostic support
• Infectious disease expertise
• Multidisciplinary rehabilitation
• Structured long-term transplant follow-up