Man survives liver failure and cardiac arrest with life-saving transplant

A 30 year old man, whose liver collapsed due to viral hepatitis, has successfully undergone a life-saving liver transplant. He also suffered a cardiac arrest while awaiting approval for a live liver donation from the patient’s brother-in-law, doctors at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj have said.


The patient arrived at the hospital in a critical state, exhibiting severe jaundice and significantly elevated liver enzyme levels. While undergoing diagnostic tests, his condition worsened rapidly, prompting doctors to inform the family of the urgent need for a liver transplant.


Initially, his sister was evaluated as a potential donor, but pre-operative scans revealed that her liver was too small to meet the surgical requirements. The family then suggested the patient’s brother-in-law—a second-degree relative—whose liver turned out to be a more suitable match. However, proceeding with a transplant involving a second-degree relative required additional regulatory approvals, making the process more complex and time-consuming. While awaiting approval, the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and he had a cardiac arrest.


“This was one of the most challenging cases we have encountered. The patient’s survival depended on precise coordination, swift decision-making, and the expertise of our multidisciplinary team. Acute liver failure is a rapidly progressing condition where every second matters. When the patient suffered sudden cardiac arrest, immediate action was crucial. Our team quickly stabilised him through CPR, and we made the decisive call to proceed with the transplant with the sister as the donor, as any further delay could have been fatal. A complex nine-hour surgery was successfully performed, and the patient is now doing well," Dr. Ajitabh Srivastava, Director – HPB Surgery & Liver Transplant, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj said.