First liver transplant carried out in Puducherry

A hospital in Puducherry transplanted a liver from a brain dead person to a liver cirrhosis patient the first such operation in the Union Territory.

The liver was retrieved from the victim of a road accident whose family consented to donate his organs. The victims kidneys and corneas were also transplanted to benefit three other people, said a release from the centrally- administered JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research).

The surgery lasted 12 hours and was performed on the patient last week. A team of eight surgeons assisted by four anaesthesiologists and nursing and technical staff carried out the operation, the release said.

The director of JIPMER, S C Parija, said the institute had established the liver transplant facility a few months ago after completing legal formalities. Equipment worth over Rs 2 crore were procured and installed in the institute for the purpose.