Evaluation Comes First
A liver transplant is considered for selected patients with advanced liver disease, acute liver failure, certain liver cancers, or complications that cannot be managed adequately with other treatment. The decision depends on hepatology review, transplant surgery assessment, MELD score, infection screening, cardiac fitness, and overall medical condition.
International patients should send liver function tests, INR, creatinine, sodium, viral markers, imaging, endoscopy reports, cancer workup if relevant, current medicines, and passport details before travel.
Living Donor Liver Transplant
In a living donor liver transplant, a medically fit and legally eligible donor gives part of their liver to the patient. The donor is usually a close relative, and both donor and recipient must undergo detailed medical, psychological, and legal evaluation.
- Donor safety is assessed before any transplant plan is accepted.
- Blood group compatibility, liver volume, anatomy, and health status are reviewed.
- Hospital ethics committee or authorisation committee approval may be required.
Deceased Donor Liver Transplant
In a deceased donor transplant, the liver comes from a registered deceased organ donor. Availability depends on allocation rules, waiting list status, blood group, urgency, and local regulations. International patients may face different eligibility or waiting-list limitations depending on policy.
This route can be less predictable for travel planning because organ timing cannot be scheduled like an elective operation.
Cost And Timeline Comparison
| Pathway | Planning Pattern | Important Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Living donor transplant | Often more schedulable after approvals | Requires eligible donor, donor workup, legal review, and committee clearance. |
| Deceased donor transplant | Timing is uncertain | Depends on organ availability, listing policy, and emergency status. |
| Approximate package range | Often USD 28,000 - 45,000 or more | Can change with ICU stay, complications, medicines, investigations, and donor evaluation. |
Documents Families Should Prepare
Families should prepare patient reports, donor identity and relationship documents if a living donor is being considered, blood group reports, passports, prior discharge summaries, imaging CDs, medication records, and financial planning documents. The hospital may request additional paperwork based on law and committee requirements.