Mysuru: In a live donor liver transplant at a private hospital in Mysuru recently, a 26- year -old woman donated part of her liver to her 36- year- old husband, saving his life. Although the husband, Somanna (name changed) needed the transplant as he was an alcoholic, Dr Rajkumar P Wadhwa, who treated him and performed the surgery using a part of his wife Rekha’s (name changed) liver on July 31, says alcohol is not the only cause of the disease today .
“Gone are the days when alcohol besides viral infection, Hepatitis B and C were mainly responsible for chronic liver diseases like liver cirrhosis among those over 20. Today auto immune diseases and lifestyle related diseases like obesity and diabetes have become major causes for chronic liver diseases, whose incidence has doubled over the past two decades,” he explained. The doctor, who heads the Institute of Gastro Sciences at the Apollo BGS hospital, was speaking to reporters in the presence of the couple at the Mysuru Press Club.
“At least 50 percent of those who suffer from chronic liver diseases, need liver transplantation. But fortunately the liver is a regenerative organ and can grow back to its full size in two months. Under the law a relative whose blood group matches the patient’s, can be a donor and the success rate of transplantation is 96 to 97 percent. A patient can return to his normal life in six months time,” he added.
Both Somanna and Rekha were teary eyed with joy. The couple, who were married three- and- a -half years ago, have a two- and-a- half year- old daughter. Rekha revealed that her father- in- law too was ready to donate his liver but as he was overweight, doctors did not consider him. Journalist-turned politician and MP Pratap Simha surprised reporters by silently joining them at the press conference. Much to the surprise of the journalists, a new voice began asking questions of the doctors and soon learnt that it was none other than Mr Simha, who seemed to have returned to his old job.
