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Liver Transplantation

Liver Transplantation

Paediatric Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is now recognized as a safe and successful procedure, not only for end-stage liver diseases but also for a variety of liver-based metabolic and hematological disorders.

Liver diseases in children differ from those in adults in terms of aetiology and management, and therefore require a dedicated team comprising a , paediatric liver transplant surgeon, paediatric hepatologist, and intensivist to achieve successful short- and long-term outcomes.

The introduction of innovative surgical techniques has made it possible to perform liver transplantation even in very young infants with excellent results. Because children often require smaller liver grafts, living donor liver transplantation has become a safe and effective alternative to cadaveric transplantation, providing high-quality liver grafts at the appropriate time and improving overall success rates.

Paediatric Liver Transplant

All paediatric liver transplants are performed by a highly specialised liver transplant surgical team led by Prof. Mohamed Rela. The team consists of four senior consultants, each with extensive expertise in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery.

Prof. Mohamed Rela is internationally recognised as one of the most accomplished hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and liver transplant surgeons in the world. He began his surgical career in Chennai over 22 years ago and has spent more than 15 years specialising in hepatobiliary (HPB) surgery and liver transplantation. To date, he has personally performed over 1,200 liver transplants.

Prof. Rela has worked at King’s College Hospital, London, UK, since 1991 — home to one of the largest liver transplant programs in Europe. He also leads the Paediatric Liver Transplant Program at King’s and serves as the Lead Clinician for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, contributing significantly to global advancements in liver transplant care.

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PROF. DR. MOHAMED RELA MS, FRCS, DSc

Chairman & Director,
Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Chennai, India.
Professor of Liver Surgery and Transplantation in King’s College Hospital, London.
  • Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rela is a pioneer in liver transplantation with over 28 years of experience in the field. In 2009, he established the Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation at Global Gleneagles Health City, Chennai, which rapidly grew to become the largest liver transplant program in India. Since its inception, the program has successfully performed over 1,500 liver transplants across the country.
  • In addition to his work in India, Prof. Rela serves as a Professor of Liver Transplant Surgery at King’s College Hospital, London, one of the most renowned liver transplant centres in the world. His extensive experience and groundbreaking contributions have placed him among the world’s leading experts in hepatobiliary and liver transplant surgery.
  • Prof. Dr. Rela later established the Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre in Chennai, with a vision to provide world-class healthcare facilities that meet international standards, while ensuring cost-effective access to advanced medical treatments, including multi-organ transplantation. His mission continues to focus on addressing the healthcare needs of the local population with compassion, innovation, and excellence.

Accomplishments

  • Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rela is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished surgeons in the field of liver transplantation, with an extensive body of work including over 400 scientific articles and papers on liver transplantation, complex hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery, and related disciplines.
  • To date, Prof. Rela has personally performed over 4,000 liver transplant surgeries, demonstrating unparalleled expertise and surgical skill.
  • In December 1997, under his leadership, a team successfully performed a liver transplant on a five-day-old infant, an achievement that earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000. The child is now 20 years old and pursuing a law degree, a testament to the long-term success of the procedure.
  • Prof. Rela also pioneered the technique of split liver transplantation, in which a single donor liver is divided and transplanted into two recipients, significantly increasing the availability of organs for transplantation.
  • Recognized for his innovation, he was named one of the most innovative paediatric surgeons alive in an article published by “Top Master’s in Healthcare Administration.“


The Liver Transplant Process at Dr Rela Institute & Medical Centre

First Step

  • Patients will have an initial consultation with a hepatologist (liver specialist).
  • They will meet the transplant coordinator to learn about the entire transplant process.
  • A finance advisor will assist in verifying insurance benefits and discussing financial aspects.
  • Patients will undergo a comprehensive transplant assessment and workup.
  • A meeting with the social worker will help prepare patients to cope with the emotional and psychological challenges during the transplant journey.
  • Consultation with a dietitian will optimize the patient’s nutritional status before surgery.
  • Patients will meet the transplant surgeons to review the surgical procedure and post-transplant care.
  • Upon completion of the evaluation, patients will either be listed on the cadaver donor waitlist or proceed with living donor liver transplant workup and surgical planning, as appropriate. (Note: The living donor pathway is generally not applicable for international patients.)

The Transplant

  • Patients are typically admitted one day prior to the transplant surgery.
  • At discharge, a multidisciplinary team including the nurse coordinator, dietitian, social worker, pharmacist, physical therapist, and the hepatologist will provide detailed guidance on caring for the new liver.

Follow Up

  • Follow-up appointments will be scheduled as per the treatment plan.
  • Patients traveling from distant locations are advised to stay in or near the transplant centre for at least three months post-surgery.
  • The team is always available to address any questions or concerns throughout recovery.
  • Patients can also opt for a one-year unlimited phone consultation service and follow-up visits to ensure continuous support.

Our program offers both adult-to-child and adult-to-adult living donor liver transplants (including right lobe donations), with excellent outcomes for both donors and recipients.

Donor Selection:

  • Only related donors are evaluated for living donor liver transplantation. The patient’s family is asked to identify potential donors with compatible blood groups—often two or three candidates—to ensure suitability.
  • Each potential donor undergoes thorough evaluation, including advanced CT scanning to assess liver anatomy in detail. Once a suitable donor is identified, comprehensive counselling is provided to discuss the procedure, risks, and postoperative care before proceeding with surgery.
  • Living donor transplants are especially valuable in urgent situations, such as:
    • Patients with acute (fulminant) liver failure
    • Patients with cirrhosis who develop liver tumors, where cadaveric organs may not be readily available
  • They are also an excellent option for children, as often one of the parents can donate a small portion of their liver, which is sufficient for the child’s needs.
  • At Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre, our highly skilled surgical team performs living donor liver transplants with the utmost safety and success, ensuring the best possible outcomes for both donors and recipients.