Liver transplant is a life-saving procedure that replaces a diseased liver with a healthy one. In India, there are numerous accomplished surgeons who specialize in this complex operation. This article profiles the top 10 liver transplant surgeons in India, providing insights into their education, hospital affiliations, years of experience, and areas of specialty.
Liver transplantation is an operation to remove a failing liver and replace it with a healthy one from a living or deceased donor. This procedure becomes necessary when the liver can no longer function properly and medications or other treatments are ineffective. The liver is a vital organ that performs a multitude of essential functions, including removing bacteria from the body and producing bile, which aids digestion. If it fails, the body’s health is at risk.
A liver transplant becomes necessary under various circumstances. Some of the common causes of liver failure include:
Severe liver disorders often present with symptoms such as:
When these symptoms become more severe and the disease reaches an end stage, a liver transplant is recommended.
India is home to some of the world’s most skilled liver transplant surgeons. Here are the top 10:
Dr. Subhash Gupta: Dr. Subhash Gupta serves as the Chairman of the Max Centre for Liver and Biliary Sciences, a premier institution renowned for its extensive expertise in liver transplants, having conducted over 3000 successful procedures. The center presently performs more than 200 liver transplants annually, alongside an equal number of complex hepatopancreaticobiliary cases. Dr. Gupta’s role encompasses ensuring adherence to safety standards across all facets of the center, including hepatology, anesthesia, and critical care. Having joined Max Healthcare in January 2017, he brings with him over three decades of experience in surgical gastroenterology, liver transplantation, and hepatopancreaticobiliary oncology.
Dr. Arvinder Singh Soin: Dr. AS Soin leads Medanta – The Medicity’s premier liver transplant program, recognized as India’s largest and globally acclaimed for its outstanding success. With an impressive 95% success rate, Dr. Soin and his adept team execute approximately 25-30 life-saving transplants each month. Dr. Soin’s extensive expertise spans over 21 years, marked by an unparalleled record of over 2500 liver transplants, the highest in the nation. Additionally, he has conducted more than 12000 intricate surgeries encompassing liver, gall bladder, and bile duct procedures, establishing himself as a pioneer in advancing liver transplantation within India. Notably, Dr. Soin plays a pivotal role in training liver teams across the country, further amplifying his impact on the field.
Dr. Giriraj Bora: Dr. Giriraj Bora, a notable figure in our Liver Transplant/HPB program, stands as one of its youngest consultants. A distinguished alum of J L N Medical College, Ajmer, Dr. Bora initially honed his skills in General Surgery at the same esteemed institution. Subsequently, he served as a Senior Resident in G I Surgery at the renowned Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow. His pursuit of excellence led him to the MCh superspecialty program in G I Surgery at G B Pant Hospital in Delhi, where he underwent rigorous training for a duration of three years. Following the completion of his training, Dr. Bora assumed the role of Consultant G I Surgeon in Jaipur, prior to embarking on his journey into the realm of Liver Transplantation, driven by his career aspirations.
In 2011, he joined CLBS as a Fellow in Liver Transplant/HPB Surgery, immersing himself in comprehensive training across all facets of Liver Transplantation and HPB Surgery.
Dr. K. R. Vasudevan: A distinguished surgeon specializing in surgical gastroenterology and liver transplantation, Dr. K. R. Vasudevan currently serves at Jaypee Hospital in Noida. With over 25 years of dedicated experience in the field, he has held specialist roles in surgical gastroenterology and liver transplantation across multiple cities in India. Dr. Vasudevan maintains affiliations with esteemed organizations including the Association of Surgeons of India, the Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology (Indian chapter), the International Hepato Pancreatic Biliary Association, and holds the esteemed positions of Founder Member in the Liver Transplant Society of India and membership in the International Liver Transplant Society (ILTS).
Dr. Neerav Goyal: Dr. Neerav Goyal, an esteemed Liver Transplant and GI surgeon, boasts over 15 years of successful practice. Proficient in a spectrum of procedures including liver cancer treatment, liver cirrhosis management, and liver transplants, he has conducted a remarkable 2100 liver transplant surgeries throughout his career. Among these surgeries, he has undertaken over 500 cadaver liver transplants and 220 pediatric liver transplants. Dr. Goyal’s professional affiliations include membership in esteemed organizations such as the Centre for Liver and Biliary Surgery, Delhi Medical Association, and the International Liver Transplant Society.
Dr. Vivek Vij: Dr. Vivek Vij stands as a trailblazing liver transplant surgeon, acknowledged for his pioneering work in advancing living donor surgery and establishing stringent safety protocols that have elevated donor safety standards to unprecedented levels since its introduction in the country. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first surgeon from the Indian subcontinent to document a series of laparoscopic Donor Hepatectomy in ‘Liver Transplantation’.
Furthermore, Dr. Vij is the visionary behind the Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Sciences division within the Fortis group of Hospitals. Under his leadership, this initiative has flourished, initiating a highly successful liver transplant program initially at the Noida center and subsequently expanding to Mohali.
Dr. Sanjiv Saigal: An expert in hepato-biliary-pancreatic care, Dr. Sanjiv Saigal boasts 22 years of extensive experience in the field. He offers his services at multiple locations, including Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon Sector 38, Medanta-Mediclinic in Defence Colony, Delhi, and his own clinic situated in Sarita Vihar, Delhi.
Dr. Avnish Seth: Dr. Avnish Seth stands as a distinguished figure in the field of Medical Gastroenterology & Hepatology in Delhi. His expertise lies in addressing hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, liver transplantation, and cutting-edge GI endoscopic procedures. Proficient in Diagnostic & Therapeutic GI Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, ERCP, and Liver Transplantation, he has pioneered the establishment of Gastroenterology and Organ Retrieval & Transplantation departments in multiple hospitals.
Dr. Abhijeet Chaudhary: Dr. Abhijeet Chaudhary stands as a prominent figure in the realm of Surgical Gastroenterology and liver transplantation. Accumulating over a decade of rich experience, he has successfully conducted more than 1250 Liver transplant procedures. Dr. Chaudhary earned his MBBS degree from Goa Medical College & Hospital, followed by an MS in General Surgery from Lady Hardinge Medical College. Further enhancing his expertise, he pursued Fellowship training in hepatobiliary and multiorgan transplant surgery at the prestigious Thomas Starzl Transplantation Institute, located at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, USA.
Dr. Ajitabh Srivastava: Dr. Ajitabh Srivastava, a seasoned hepatologist boasting over 12 years of expertise, has spearheaded numerous liver transplant procedures exceeding 1500 cases. His proficiency spans across deceased donor, living donor, and pediatric transplantations. Noteworthy is his integral role within transplant units at renowned institutions including Apollo Chennai, Apollo Delhi, and MIOT Chennai. Dr. Srivastava has been pivotal in India’s liver transplant landscape, contributing to groundbreaking innovations in living donor liver transplants such as ABOI, minimally invasive donor hepatectomy, and dual liver transplantation.
Written By
Shafiq Ahmad Khan
Founder & CEO
