22nd April, 2025, Vijayawada: The Manipal Hospital Vijayawada–South Asian Liver Institute Partnership is setting new benchmarks in comprehensive transplant and advanced liver care services. Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, in collaboration with the South Asian Liver Institute, organized a press conference on 22nd April 2025, to spotlight their services in liver transplant, recovery, and care excellence. The event emphasized the critical importance of meticulous pre-operative planning, donor selection protocols, and the implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) — a perioperative care pathway that significantly improves transplant outcomes.
Dr. Rajesh Chandra, Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, addressed the media with a powerful keynote that walked through the entire liver transplant workup process. “Transplantation is often the only definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease. Our goal is to ensure patients are identified early, monitored regularly, and made ready for transplant before complications arise.” Dr. Rajesh Chandra emphasized
Highlighting the selection process, Dr. Rajesh Chandra explained how timely follow-up for patients with chronic liver disease and early workup of potential donors significantly improves outcomes. “The matching of blood groups is crucial, but what truly determines eligibility is a comprehensive pre-transplant workup – for both recipient and donor. The donor’s safety remains paramount, and our assessments ensure they can lead a healthy life even after donation.”
He further clarified common misconceptions around donor recovery and graft rejection. “The liver is remarkable – it regenerates. Donors typically return to full function in few months. Rejection, however, is a reality in any organ transplant. That’s why post-operative monitoring of the recipient and immunosuppression adjustments are as important as the surgery itself,” he stated.
Reinforcing this patient-centered approach, Dr. Sudhakar Kantipudi, Cluster Director, Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, added, “Over the past three years, the Manipal Hospital–South Asian Liver Institute Partnership in Vijayawada has emerged as a Centre of Excellence for liver disease care in coastal Andhra Pradesh. We are proud to have performed the highest number of liver transplants in the state last year, including the most paediatric transplants. One of our most inspiring milestones was successfully performing a living donor liver transplant on a 4-year-old boy with an otherwise inoperable liver cancer—bringing new hope to many families facing similar challenges. We are committed to making high-quality liver transplant care accessible, safe, and outcome-driven. This is not just a clinical milestone; it’s a humanitarian one.”
With its comprehensive transplant pathway – from early diagnosis to donor safety and long-term follow-up – Manipal Hospital Vijayawada continues to lead the way in holistic liver care. The collaborative approaches and the collective expertise of medical gastroenterology, surgical expertise, and pioneering ERAS protocols makes the centre a beacon of hope for patients across the region.
As Manipal’s liver transplant team looks ahead, the message is clear – preparation is power, and precision is life-saving.
