In a historic moment for government-run healthcare in South India, Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, achieved Tamil Nadu’s first successful liver transplant on January 28, 2009. The landmark surgery marked a new chapter in affordable, advanced organ transplant care through public institutions.
The complex 13-hour cadaveric liver transplant surgery was performed on a 40-year-old woman suffering from end-stage liver disease. A dedicated team from the hospital’s Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, supported by anaesthesiologists, hepatologists, and transplant coordinators, conducted the operation — a first in a Tamil Nadu government hospital.
The donor was a 19-year-old male, declared brain-dead following a fatal accident. With the consent of his family, the liver was harvested and transplanted at Stanley Medical College Hospital, making it the first-ever cadaveric liver transplant conducted successfully in the state’s public healthcare system.
- Placed Tamil Nadu among leading Indian states in liver transplantation.
- Showcased the capabilities of government medical colleges in performing highly specialized procedures.
- Was a significant outcome of Tamil Nadu’s Cadaver Transplant Programme, one of India’s most successful organ donation frameworks.
Dr. R. Surendran, who led the surgical team, stated:
“This milestone proves that with infrastructure, expertise, and policy support, complex surgeries like liver transplants can be done within government hospitals—making them accessible to all, not just the privileged.”
Following this success, Stanley Medical College became a regional hub for liver transplants, with continued support from the Tamil Nadu government and NGOs like the MOHAN Foundation, further promoting organ donation awareness and training.
