Lucknow, January 30, 2018: Apollo Hospitals, Chennai in association with Apollo Clinic, Lucknow on Saturday launched a liver clinic in Lucknow, first in Uttar Pradesh.
The liver clinic was inaugurated by Dr. Anand K Khakhar, Group Programme Director and Senior Consultant from the Centre for Liver Diseases and Transplantation (CLDT) team, Apollo Hospitals.
The liver clinic, situated in Hazratganj area, will be visited by BC Roy Award winner and world renowned surgeon, Dr. Anand K Khakhar by last Saturday of every month.
Speaking on the objectives of the clinic, Dr. Anand says that “Liver transplantation being a very niche specialty with limited expertise, this clinic would give access to specialised treatment to patients from this region. Patients can seek advice, plan their treatment and then go to Chennai for the transplant if necessary. Also it becomes easier for post-transplant patients to seek follow up advice.”
The CLDT team at Apollo Hospitals has their credit of the highest number of successful cadaveric liver transplantations in the country. Overall, the team has performed over 800 liver transplants in a period of 10 years from both living and cadaveric donors making it the highest in South India in such short period of time from inspection.
He claimed that now liver transplant has become affordable with its cost going down.
Recently, the team performed the first combined Heart & Liver Transplant in Asia, Completing 50 successful paediatric Transplant, First Combined Kidney Pancreas Transplant in the country.
Liver disease is the 10th cause of death in India and recently, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise. The main cause being, the lifestyle patterns of people in Uttar Pradesh.
“People here consume food that contains high quantity of Ghee thus leading to obesity which ultimately causes fatty liver diseases. In some cases, this leads to liver cirrhosis and death. One of the key factors to be considered in preventing Liver diseases is creating awareness among people. Over 90 per cent of patients do not know that their liver is infected and they undergo delayed diagnosis” says Dr. Anand commenting on the lifestyle and condition of liver diseases in the country.
Leading a healthy lifestyle, being physically fit , reducing alcohol consumption, using safe medical practices can prevent liver diseases, he said.
United News of India
