In a rare and technically complex procedure, doctors at Gleneagles Hospital performed a split liver transplant from a 38-year-old brain-dead donor, saving the lives of a 44-year-old man suffering from end-stage liver disease and a three-year-old child battling cryptogenic cirrhosis. The remarkable procedure demonstrates how a single organ donation can transform multiple lives.
A Lifeline for Two Patients
In a powerful example of how one act of generosity can change lives, the split liver transplant offered renewed hope to two families. For 44-year-old Netaji Chavan, who had been struggling with advanced liver disease, everyday life had become increasingly difficult. At the same time, three-year-old Charvik Ingle was fighting severe liver failure that had severely affected his growth and strength.
When doctors divided the donor’s liver into two segments—one for the adult patient and the other for the child—the surgery became more than a medical procedure. It became a lifeline. As a result, one family welcomed a healthier father home, while the other saw their young child regain the chance to grow and live normally.
The Adult Patient’s Long Battle With Liver Disease
As per the press release, Netaji Chavan, a resident of Sion in Mumbai, had been suffering from decompensated cirrhosis of the liver, accompanied by ascites, jaundice, and severe muscle wasting. He had been on the deceased donor waitlist since April 1, 2021. Over time, his health continued to deteriorate, making transplantation his only viable option.
Reflecting on his journey, Chavan said, “I had almost lost hope after waiting for years. Living with liver disease was not just physically exhausting but also mentally draining. There were days when even simple activities like eating or walking left me extremely tired. Watching my body grow weaker while waiting for a transplant was frightening because you never know if help will arrive in time.”
A Child Fighting a Rare Liver Condition
Meanwhile, three-year-old Charvik Ingle from Nerul in Navi Mumbai was diagnosed with cryptogenic cirrhosis, a childhood liver disease with no identifiable cause. Doctors confirmed the condition through a CT scan. Although he was three years old, his height and weight resembled those of a one- to two-year-old child due to severe growth failure.
Additionally, he suffered from abdominal swelling caused by fluid accumulation. Despite extensive investigations, including whole exome sequencing, doctors could not identify a genetic cause. As his condition worsened, doctors placed him on the deceased donor liver transplant waitlist on December 12, 2025, because transplantation was the only curative treatment.
Charvik’s father shared the family’s emotional struggle, saying, “We were devastated when we learned that our child had liver failure. Every hospital visit filled us with fear. When doctors explained that a transplant was the only solution, we felt scared but also hopeful.”
Donor’s Gift Makes a Rare Procedure Possible
The transplant became possible after a 38-year-old man was declared brain dead at AIMS Hospital. Although the hospital is accredited only for kidney transplants, the donor’s liver was allocated to the city pool according to guidelines established by the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC).
Because the donor was relatively young and had excellent liver function tests, the transplant team at Gleneagles Hospital carefully evaluated the organ and decided to perform a split liver transplant—one of the most specialized procedures in transplant surgery.
However, since AIMS Hospital lacked the advanced surgical equipment required to divide the liver, the Gleneagles transplant team coordinated closely with ZTCC Mumbai. They transported the necessary instruments from their hospital to Dombivli to safely perform the split procedure at the donor hospital.
Complex Surgical Coordination Across Locations
Explaining the procedure, Dr Anurag Shrimal, Director – Liver Transplant at Gleneagles Hospital Parel, said the donor surgery was successfully performed on February 9, 2025.
During the procedure, surgeons carefully divided the liver into two segments: the right trisection, which was transplanted into the adult recipient, and the left lateral segment, which was used for the pediatric patient. Doctors performed the splitting under cold preservation on the back table—a technically demanding step requiring exceptional precision.
At the same time, multiple surgical teams worked simultaneously at different locations. Operating theatres were prepared both at the donor hospital in Dombivli and at Gleneagles Hospital in Parel for the two recipients. In addition, a fourth operating theatre was opened to complete the final stage of splitting before implantation. Altogether, the highly coordinated effort lasted nearly 15–17 hours.
One Donor Organ, Two Lives Saved
Split liver transplantation is considered one of the most complex procedures in transplant surgery. It requires meticulous donor evaluation, detailed planning, and seamless coordination among surgical, anesthesia, and critical care teams.
In this case, the team ensured that the liver was safely divided and successfully transplanted into both recipients. The liver’s remarkable ability to regenerate enables one carefully selected donor organ to save two lives. Nevertheless, patient safety and optimal graft function remain the foremost priorities during such procedures.
Successful Recovery and Renewed Hope
Both patients recovered well after surgery and were discharged in stable condition. They continue to do well, offering two families renewed hope following a single act of organ donation.
Addressing the Shortage of Pediatric Donor Organs
Commenting on the case, Dr S. K. Mathur, President of the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre, highlighted the importance of split liver transplantation.
He explained that there is a severe shortage of pediatric donors, which often prevents children waiting for liver transplantation from receiving size-matched organs in time. In many Western countries, surgeons routinely split livers from young deceased donors so that the larger portion can be transplanted into an adult while the smaller segment is used for a child. However, this technique is still rarely performed in India.
ZTCC’s Liver Technical Committee has now developed guidelines to encourage splitting suitable young donor livers so that both adult and pediatric recipients can benefit.
The Importance of Organ Donation Awareness
Dr Bipin Chevale, CEO of Gleneagles Hospital Mumbai, emphasized the broader significance of the case. He noted that the milestone demonstrates what can be achieved when compassion and advanced medical care work together.
He also acknowledged the donor family’s courageous decision during a difficult time, which ultimately gave two patients a second chance at life. Increasing awareness about brain death and organ donation, he added, remains crucial to bridging the gap between patients waiting for transplants and the limited number of available donor organs.
A Powerful Reminder of the Impact of Organ Donation
Both patients and their families expressed deep gratitude to the donor family and the medical teams whose timely expertise and compassionate care made the life-saving procedures possible.
Organ donation in Mumbai often comes from elderly donors, which makes this 38-year-old donor’s case particularly significant. After he was declared brain dead, his family made the selfless decision to donate his organs. In doing so, they not only saved two lives but also offered a powerful reminder that a single act of generosity can multiply hope and transform the future for multiple patients.