Liver transplant surgeries are set to resume at Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital after a three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital’s license to perform the surgeries had expired but was renewed last year. A separate ward with eight beds will also be established for transplant patients within the next two weeks. In addition to this, efforts are being made to increase the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds at the hospital to ensure urgent cases are not delayed or transferred to other facilities.
Speaking anonymously, a doctor revealed that a dedicated eight-bed ICU will be ready for liver transplant patients. The surgeries will be conducted in collaboration with doctors from the hepatology and gastrointestinal departments. At present, there are 23 patients at KEM Hospital awaiting liver transplants, with a total of 44 patients in Mumbai. Prior to the pandemic, the hospital had successfully performed 19 liver transplant surgeries.
The resumption of liver transplant surgeries at KEM Hospital brings hope to patients who have been waiting for a long time. The renewal of the hospital’s license and the establishment of a dedicated ward and ICU demonstrate the commitment to meet the urgent medical needs of transplant patients. The collaboration between different departments is expected to ensure a comprehensive and specialized approach to these complex surgeries.
