Mumbai: ​Daughter-in-law saves the life of Father in Law by donating part of her liver

In a world where their children desert the elderly parents, a 33-year-old woman from Surat has defied this trend by fostering a strong bond with her father-in-law, demonstrating respect for elders and upholding family ties. This courageous woman selflessly donated a portion of her liver to her father-in-law who was battling chronic liver disease.

The complex robotic transplant was transferred at Gleneagles Hospitals, by a team of Dr Gaurav Chaubal, Director of Liver, Pancreas, and Intestine Transplant Program, and HPB Surgery & Dr Uday Sanglodkar, Senior Consultant Hepatologist and Clinical lead liver and transplant ICU, to save the patient's life despite complications such as multiple hospitalizations, acute kidney injury, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, and infection episodes.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2019, Sanjay Viratia, a 58-year-old resident of Surat, underwent a health check-up that revealed liver swelling. Subsequently, he experienced blood in vomitus and stomach ulcers, but multiple doctors were unable to provide an accurate diagnosis.

Over the last six months, his health deteriorated, suffering from frequent drowsiness and other symptoms that disrupted his daily life. His family doctor recommended seeking further treatment at Gleneagles Hospitals, Mumbai. Following this advice, Viratia's relatives brought him to Gleneagles Hospitals in Parel for a life-saving living donor liver transplant where his daughter-in-law selflessly donated part of her liver.

Robotic surgery is revolutionizing liver transplants, offering unparalleled precision and minimally invasive procedures. This cutting-edge technology reduces recovery time, minimizes surgical trauma, and enhances patient outcomes. With robotic assistance, surgeons can perform complex liver transplants with greater accuracy, leading to fewer complications and faster healing. This advancement is transforming the field, making liver transplants safer and more efficient, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients like Viratia.

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Dr Gaurav Chaubal, highlighted, “A liver transplant is a complex procedure wherein a damaged liver is replaced with a healthy one from either a deceased donor or a living donor who donates a portion of their liver. Robotic liver transplant offers safety and accuracy by reducing the risk of complications with successful outcomes for patients. The use of robotics in liver transplants allows shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery time due to smaller incisions, and less trauma to surrounding tissues. This revolutionary technique reduces post-operative pain and discomfort, enabling patients to resume their daily activities with ease when compared to the traditional surgeries.”

Dr Uday Sanglodkar said, “Upon arrival, a thorough assessment, including a liver function test and MRI scan of the liver, confirmed that he had been dealing with chronic liver disease for the past three years. He had recently been admitted multiple times in Surat due to episodes of drowsiness, liver failure, and kidney damage. The decision was made to proceed with an early liver transplant as delaying the procedure could have resulted in severe consequences like Liver failure and death. Despite all family members willing to donate their part of liver none were a suitable match except for his daughter-in-law. She selflessly volunteered to donate a portion of her liver to save her father-in-law's life. A living donor liver transplant was then performed where the donor's liver completely regenerates within three months after the surgery.”

Sanjay Viratia expressed profound gratitude towards Gleneagles Hospital and his daughter-in-law for generously offering to donate her liver without hesitation. “My daughter-in-law has shown care and love by stepping up to save my life. I feel blessed to have such a responsible and caring daughter-in-law who stands strong during challenging times like this medical crisis,” said the patient Sanjay Viratia.

The advanced technology of robotics ensured that I did not have a large abdominal scar & recovery time was also quick. “With our blood types matching, I remained firm in my decision to save the life of my father-in-law," highlighted by Miss Mital Viratia (daughter-in-law of Sanjay Viratia).