Bangladeshi national gets liver transplant in Apollo

New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) This Eid is going to be special for 52- year-old Dr Humayun Kabir, a Bangladeshi national who got a new lease of life after a liver transplant here.

Dr Kabir, who had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of liver due to Hepatitis B, had been living under the shadow of death for almost a decade.

His liver had almost stopped functioning and death was certain if the transplant was not performed. Exorbitant surgery cost in Bangladesh, which he could not afford, had dashed all his hopes for survival.

But thanks to the liver transplant using the new and first in India cost-effective approach at the Apollo Hospital, Dr Kabir will now lead a normal life without the fear of death or bankruptcy looming large over his head.

A team of doctors, led by Dr Subash Gupta, performed the procedure on September 17 without using the expensive hepatitis B immunoglobulins, cutting down the cost from Rs 25 lakh to 15 lakh.

''We tried the new technology, based on the Hong Kong model, to provide hope to scores of people suffering from liver ailments due to hepatitis B and C. We are glad it was successful and Dr Kabir is healthy now,'' said Dr Gupta.

Dr Kabir received half of his younger brother's liver.

A three-steps procedure was used to phase out the immunoglobulins, which stop recurrence of the hepatitis virus infection in post operative phase.

''First we had to stop viral replication in the recipient.

On his arrival in the hospital, Dr Kabir was put on strong antiviral drugs. His blood was tested after six weeks and he was found to be Hepatitis B DNA negative,'' Dr Gupta said.

''Simultaneously, his brother was vaccinater with the Hepatitis B vaccine and when his antibodies were adequate, he donated half his liver...,'' he explained.

Although the risk of recurrence is low by this method, Dr Kabir will still need to be on antiviral drugs lifelong.

Despite being on these drugs for the rest of life, Dr Kabir is happy to be alive and healthy.

''I am grateful to God, the doctors and my family. I have a new lease of life and will use it to serve people back home. I feel I have achieved what I had come for,'' said the frail-looking man who is heading back to Dhaka on October 23 to attend Eid festivities with his family.

''The cost of the surgery was so huge that even after bankruptcy, I wouldn't have been able to raise the entire amount of Rs 25 lakh. The cost-effective procedure made it possible for me,'' he said.

Some portion of Dr Kabir's treatment cost was shared by the Government. Dr Kabir was all praise for the team of doctors at the hospital.

''Dr Gupta is a friend of mine and that is why I came here....

I had faith in him and that is what drove me to India. The doctors are highly qualified and professional. They have done justice to the faith I have in them,'' he said.

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