South Asian Liver Institute has successfully introduced the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol to liver transplantation. This new approach could have a big impact on patients with liver disease, especially when it comes to reducing costs and improving recovery after surgery.
Liver transplants are life-saving, but two main barriers stop many patients from getting them: high costs and the shortage of donor organs. By using the ERAS protocol, hospitals may be able to shorten patients’ hospital stays by 20-30%. Shorter stays also mean fewer complications, leading to better overall outcomes for patients. With over 300 million people in India suffering from liver disease and more than 100,000 deaths each year, medical advances like this could be game changers, said Prof. Dr. Tom Cherian, Founder and Managing Director of South Asian Liver Institute.
ERAS has already transformed several surgical fields by changing old practices. Over the last decade, it has been widely accepted in many surgeries. However, liver transplantation has been one of the last areas to adopt it because of its complexity. “ERAS is an evidence-based care pathway designed to reduce the body’s stress response to surgery,” explained Dr. Cherian.
At the South Asian Liver Institute, 18 patients out of 112 who had liver surgery have already benefited from the ERAS approach. The hospital compared data from two 12-month periods. They found that the average hospital stay for liver transplant patients was 21% shorter in the second period. In the first period, only 3% of patients were discharged in less than 8 days, but in the second period, 15% were discharged that quickly—a fivefold increase. Gastroenterologist Dr. Srilekha highlighted that improvements such as ‘prehabilitation,’ the use of short-acting anesthetics, early extubation, and early mobilization helped make this progress possible.
One patient, Mrs. Mohini, shared her experience: “We entered the hospital with great fear after years of dealing with liver problems. To leave within seven days was a pleasant surprise. The SALI team explained the new protocols, but it still felt unbelievable until we actually went home.”
Prof. Dr. Tom Cherian has performed over 700 liver transplants, with 400 of them taking place in London before he returned to India. He is known for making liver transplants more accessible to the common man. Notably, he performed the first-ever liver transplants at Osmania Hospital and Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). In 2015, the Times of India recognized him as a ‘Legend in Liver Transplantation.’
In conclusion, Dr. Cherian expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the South Asian Liver Institute. “I started South Asian Liver Institute to advance liver care in India, and I am pleased that it is living up to its ambitions,” he said. The institute now operates four liver transplant centers and 11 liver-focused clinics across eight states. Its mission is to provide world-class liver disease treatment in India at a cost that makes it accessible to those in need.
