19 February,2009 05:25 PM IST | | A Correspondent
Raghunath Kathuria (62), who was diagnosed of cryptogenic Cirrhosis of liver in 2006, underwent a successful liver transplant in January making him the first liver transplant patient of the year.
In September 2008, he visited Wockhardt Hospitals with complaints of fatigue, weakness and abdominal distension. Kathuria was evaluated thoroughly by team consisting of cardiologist, chest physician, nephrologists and anesthetists at Wockhardt Hospitals and found fit to undergo a major surgery of Liver Transplantation. The opinion at that time was that with the existing supportive medical management, Kathuria would not be able to live for more than one year.
He was then listed for Cadaver Liver Transplantation at Wockhardt Hospitals. In the first week of January 2009, a cadaver liver donor became available. However, Kathuria developed fever on that day, hence could not be transplanted.
Fortunately, Kathuria did not have to wait long. On Republic day this year, relatives of a 57-year-old brain dead patient (who was admitted at Wockhardt Hospitals ICU with Intracranial bleed), when counseled by the hospital social workers, agreed to donate liver for transplantation.
The surgery on Kathuria was conducted by Wockhardt surgeon Dr S K Mathur and his team. ""The liver was in good condition and the transplant team was happy. However, Kathuria had a near miss situation yet again when he suddenly developed an allergic reaction. Kathuria's family and the entire transplant team at the hospital went through anxious moments wondering whether liver transplantation would have to be suspended. Fortunately, the allergic reactions were brought under control with medications."
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Surgery however proved successful and Kathuria has even resumed work from his bedside. "I can't believe my good luck. It feel like I've been reborn," he said.
