Wockhardt Hospitals Launches Early Recovery Program for Liver Transplantation
Wockhardt Hospitals, in collaboration with the South Asian Liver Institute, has launched an innovative Early Recovery Program (ERP) for liver transplantation in Mumbai. This program aims to significantly reduce the financial burden of liver transplants for patients by approximately 20-30%.
The ERP achieves this cost reduction by minimizing hospital stays for both donors and recipients. This is made possible through the use of modern techniques that result in reduced blood loss, eliminating the need for blood transfusions.
In addition to cost savings, the ERP program also boasts improved patient outcomes and survival rates. The program claims to enhance survival rates by approximately 2-3% through the use of advanced surgical techniques. These techniques focus on minimizing blood loss, optimizing pre-operative patient care, utilizing sophisticated drainage systems for liver grafts, and implementing enhanced critical care protocols. These measures contribute to faster recovery times and improved patient survival rates.
Tom Cherian, director of the transplant program at Wockhardt Hospitals (Mumbai Central), emphasizes the meticulous planning and high-quality medical care required for the program's success. He highlights the importance of excellence in all aspects of surgery, intensive care, and preparation to achieve the program's goals of discharging liver transplant patients on day seven and donors on day six.
Cherian also acknowledges the influence of similar enhanced recovery programs already in use worldwide. He emphasizes the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration among medical professionals to continuously improve patient care. He cites Amsterdam and other centers with established enhanced recovery programs as examples of best practices.
Currently, most liver transplant centers in India discharge patients after 14-16 days. However, Wockhardt Hospitals has successfully discharged patients after seven days through their ERP program. While the program is still in its early stages, the hospital aims to expand its reach to regions like northeast India to engage more patients in the ERP and improve access to affordable and efficient liver transplantation.