Two High-Risk Patients Recover After Rare Combined Cardiac and Liver Transplant Procedures at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh

Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, achieved a significant medical milestone by successfully treating two critically ill patients suffering from advanced liver failure alongside severe cardiac conditions through a series of highly complex, multidisciplinary procedures.

The first patient, a 46-year-old man from Uzbekistan, was diagnosed with decompensated chronic liver disease and severe triple-vessel coronary artery disease involving blockages in all three major heart arteries. Given the high surgical risk, the team performed a beating-heart coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery to minimise bleeding complications, immediately followed by a living-donor liver transplant during the same operative session.

The second patient, aged 41 years, was suffering from advanced liver disease along with critical aortic valve stenosis, a condition that severely restricted blood flow from the heart. The multidisciplinary team first performed open-heart valve replacement surgery and, after closely monitoring the patient for 24 hours to ensure stability, successfully carried out a living-donor liver transplant the following day.

Both patients had decompensated chronic liver disease, a life-threatening condition associated with complications such as jaundice, fluid accumulation, bleeding tendencies, and kidney dysfunction. Liver transplantation represented their only definitive treatment option; however, their underlying cardiac conditions significantly increased the complexity and risk of surgery.

Led by Dr. Ashish George and supported by a multidisciplinary team of liver transplant surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists, intensivists, and transplant specialists, the procedures required meticulous planning, seamless coordination, and advanced perioperative care.

Both patients recovered steadily following surgery and were discharged within three weeks with stable cardiac function and well-functioning transplanted livers.

This rare achievement highlights Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh’s expertise in managing some of the most complex medical and surgical cases, demonstrating the power of multidisciplinary collaboration, advanced surgical capabilities, and patient-centred care in delivering life-saving outcomes.