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Past events at MIOT

Seen (from left to right): Dr. Dinesh Jothimani – Consultant – Hepatologist – MIOT Hospitals; Prof. Dr. Elwyn Elias – Former Professor & Head, Division of Hepatology & Liver Transplant, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK; Dr. Prithvi Mohandas – Founder & Secretary – IBHI; Joint Managing Director – MIOT Hospitals; Prof. Dr. George M Chandy – Director – MIOT Advanced Center for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases – MIOT Hospitals; Dr. S.C Samal – Head, MIOT Center of Excellence in GI Endoscopy – MIOT Hospitals; Dr. Suresh Singhvi – Senior Consultant Surgeon HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation – MIOT Hospitals.

GIBHICON 2012, an international conference organized by the IBHI (Indo British Health Initiative) on the latest developments in Gastroenterology, GI Surgery, Hepatology, GI endoscopy, Liver Transplantation and Bariatric surgery was held at the MIOT Hospitals Chennai on April 21, 22, 2012. Luminaries in these specialities from the United Kingdom and India presented state-of-the-art lectures and case studies. “Young Masters hour for Innovation and Excellence” an award for young innovators was awarded to young experts putting forward new ideas.

A press meet was organized at MIOT Hospitals on 20th April 2012 on behalf of this international conference and to celebrate the setting up of the MIOT Liver Transplantation programme.

Liver, one of the most important organs in the body, is able to perform its functions despite various insults. Persistent and progressive damage leads to cirrhosis which is characterized by scarring and nodular transformation. The causes for such damage are many – alcohol, viral infection and fatty change to mention a few. Even at this stage, patients may be asymptomatic. As the disease progresses, complications arise – bleeding, fluid overload, jaundice and liver cancer.

Unfortunately, by then it is too late! The clear message is to prevent the illness, and if that is not possible, to prevent progression of the disease.

Approximately 200,000 Indians die of end stage liver disease every year. 4% of Indians suffer from Hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatic C infection afflicts 1% of our people. 85% of them develop cirrhosis. In a recent study done in Chennai, it was found that nearly 30% of people have fatty liver, which we now know can go on to cirrhosis. WHO estimates that 2 billion people worldwide consume alcoholic beverages and in 76.3 million, it affects the liver. Ethanol abuse has increased in our country in recent times. The per capita consumption of alcohol has increased to 4 litres per year. The national Family Health Survey reported that 30 % of adult Indians consume alcohol, of which 4 – 13 % are daily users. 50 % of cirrhosis is due to ethanol abuse.

There has been considerable progress in the field of Hepatology in recent times. Treatment options are now available for viral infections that affect the liver. Liver cancer can be cured if identified early. It is essential to bring this to the notice of practicing physicians. Creating awareness in the public is an important prevention strategy.

Once a patient develops end stage liver disease, liver transplantation is the only curative option. For liver transplantation, the donor liver can be either from a deceased person (cadaver) or from a living relative. Availability of the organ is a huge limitation in the deceased donor liver transplantation. Organ donation is much higher in the West when compared to India. Last year in Britain approximately 1000 deceased patients donated their organs. However, in Tamilnadu, we have had only 248 donations since October 2008. Lack of awareness, social and religious views contribute to this situation.

In deceased donor liver transplantation, usually the whole liver gets transplanted to the patient. Split Liver Transplantation is a technique whereby one liver can be transplanted to two patients. Usually the larger right lobe is given to an adult and the smaller left lobe is given to a child. The transplanted liver (graft) grows to the appropriate size in 6 – 8 weeks. In living donor liver transplantation, the first degree relative donates a portion of their liver usually the right lobe for adults.

Doctors in the UK have been international trend setters in the management of liver diseases and transplantation over decades. Professor Elwyn Elias, who set up one of the best Liver Transplantation centres in the world is one of the lead speakers for the conference. Dr. Suresh Singhvi who has returned to India after 10 years of extensive training in liver transplantation has joined MIOT Hospitals as the lead liver transplant surgeon and he spoke on the recent advances in liver transplantation.