Royal care hospital performs rare liver transplant

Royal Care Super Speciality Hospital, Coimbatore, has successfully performed a rare and highly complex deceased-donor liver transplant on a 65-year-old woman who was dependent on a permanent pacemaker for complete heart
block.
The patient has fully recovered and has been discharged in good health.
Performing a liver transplant on a pacemaker-dependent patient presents exceptional challenges.
Electrical equipment used during surgery, fluctuations in blood pressure and electrolyte levels can interfere with pacemaker function, making cardiac stability crucial throughout the
procedure.
The surgery demanded meticulous planning and close coordination among multiple medical teams. The cardiology team ensured optimal pacemaker performance before and during the surgery. “Our first step was to assess her cardiac condition and evaluate the pacemaker thoroughly,” said Dr. Varun Marimuthu, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist.
“We fine-tuned the device settings to ensure reliable functioning under surgical stress. Continuous monitoring helped maintain complete cardiac safety.”
In the operating room, the anaesthesia team played a vital role. “Every organ must be protected during a liver transplant,” said Dr. Abhinaya, Liver Transplant Anaesthesiologist.
“Given her pacemaker, we planned the procedure step by step, selected drugs carefully, and monitored her heartbeat, blood pressure and oxygen levels in real
time.
Advanced cardiac monitoring guided us through every minute of the surgery.”
Post-operative care in the ICU was crucial for the patient’s recovery. Dr. M. N. Sivakumar, Head of Institute Critical Care Medicine, said, “After a transplant, the new liver faces its true test in the ICU.
Here, we had to balance the needs of the new liver, a pacemaker-dependent heart and the recovery demands of an elderly patient. With advanced monitoring and strict infection control, we ensured timely intervention and smooth recovery.”
Lead Liver Transplant Surgeon Dr. Ilango Sethu said the successful outcome reflected the strength of Royal Care’s multidisciplinary ecosystem.
“With hepatology, cardiology, anaesthesia, critical care and surgery working seamlessly under one roof, we are able to safely perform life-saving transplants even in patients with complex cardiac devices.”
Chairman and Managing Director Dr. K. Madeswaran said the hospital consistently performs successful heart, liver, pancreas and lung transplants with support from its medical, paramedical and administrative
teams.
“Royal Care is among India’s best accredited hospitals, holding JCI, SRC, CARF and NABH accreditations.
We provide world-class treatment with personalised care,” he said, congratulating the entire team for the achievement. The patient’s family expressed heartfelt gratitude to the donor family, the medical team and the organ donation system for giving her a renewed
life.
Royal Care Hospital reaffirmed its commitment to offering advanced transplant care for patients with complex medical needs.