Comprehensive Liver Care & Transplant

Liver disease is serious. With the right evaluation and care, most patients have more options than they think.

This page covers how the liver works, what goes wrong in liver disease, when a transplant becomes necessary, and what the journey from first appointment to long-term recovery looks like. For patients and families trying to understand a diagnosis, it is a practical starting point.

Talk to the Transplant Team Understand Liver Disease

10+ yrsin liver transplantation

250+transplants as part of the team

AIIMSGold medallist, MS Surgery

Why the liver matters

The Body's Hardest-Working Organ, and the Only One that Can Grow Itself Back.

The liver runs hundreds of jobs at once: filtering toxins, storing energy, helping digestion and supporting the immune system. It also has an unusual ability to regenerate. That single characteristic is what makes living donor liver transplantation possible, where a healthy person can donate part of their liver and both halves grow back to near-normal size.

Detoxification

Clears alcohol, drugs and metabolic waste from the blood around the clock.

Metabolism & digestion

Produces bile, manages fats, sugars and proteins that fuel the body.

Immune defence

Acts as a first line of defence, filtering bacteria and infections.

Regeneration

Re-grows to near-normal size. This is the biological basis for living donor transplants.

How liver disease progresses

Healthy Liver

Full function

Fatty Liver

Often reversible

Fibrosis

Scarring begins

Cirrhosis

Permanent damage

Liver Cancer

May need transplant

Warning signs of liver failure

! Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

! Ascites (fluid build-up and abdominal swelling)

! Vomiting blood or gastrointestinal bleeding

! Hepatic encephalopathy (confusion, drowsiness, excess sleep)

! Abnormal liver function test results on routine blood work

Chronic liver failure builds slowly over years. Acute liver failure can appear within days. In either case, early evaluation gives you more options and usually a calmer path to treatment.

When a transplant is considered

Conditions That May Lead to a Liver Transplant

A transplant is recommended when the liver can no longer keep up with the body's needs. These are the most common reasons patients come to us.

Chronic Liver Diseases

NAFLD (fatty liver)
Alcoholic liver disease
Hepatitis B & C
Autoimmune hepatitis
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Biliary cirrhosis

Liver Cancers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Cholangiocarcinoma
Neuroendocrine tumours
Selected metastatic tumours

Acute Liver Failure

Viral infections
Drug toxicity (paracetamol)
Anti-TB drug reactions
Poisoning

Genetic & Metabolic Disorders

Wilson's disease
Haemochromatosis
Glycogen storage disorders
Primary hyperoxaluria

Paediatric Conditions

Biliary atresia
PFIC
Metabolic liver disease in children
Paediatric acute liver failure

Dr Chaubal has performed specialised paediatric procedures, including auxiliary liver transplant for paediatric acute liver failure and monosegment graft transplants for infants.

Getting clear answers first

Diagnostic Tests for Liver Health

Before any decision about treatment, we build a complete picture of your liver using a careful, step-by-step assessment.

Liver Function Tests (LFTs)

Blood tests measuring enzymes, bilirubin and proteins to assess how well the liver is working and to track any change over time.

Ultrasound Abdomen

A painless, non-invasive scan that visualises the liver and nearby organs, detecting fatty liver, cysts, tumours and fluid.

CT Scan / MRI

Advanced imaging that maps the liver's structure in detail. Used to diagnose cirrhosis and tumours, and to plan surgery.

Fibroscan™

A quick, painless test that measures liver stiffness, helping detect fibrosis and cirrhosis at an early, more treatable stage.

Liver Biopsy

A small tissue sample examined under a microscope for a precise diagnosis and an accurate read on disease severity.

Viral Hepatitis Tests

Blood tests for Hepatitis A, B and C that enable early treatment and help prevent long-term liver damage.

Which procedure is right for you

Types of Liver Transplantation We Perform

No two patients are the same. Our programme offers the full range of transplant options, choosing the safest route for both recipient and donor.

Living Donor Liver Transplant

Part of a healthy relative's liver is transplanted. Both halves regenerate.

Deceased Donor Liver Transplant

A whole liver from a registered cadaveric donor.

ABO-Incompatible Transplant

Crossing blood-group barriers with special preparation.

Paired Exchange (Swap)

Two families swap compatible donors to help both patients.

Auxiliary Liver Transplant

A donor segment supports the liver while it recovers.

Domino Liver Transplant

A recipient's structurally usable liver helps a second patient.

Split Liver Transplant

One donor liver divided to save two recipients.

Combined Liver & Kidney Transplant

For patients whose liver and kidney both need replacing.

What to Expect

What Happens from First Appointment to Recovery

Most patients and families want to know what to expect before they commit to anything. This is how the process typically unfolds.

Evaluation

Blood investigations
Imaging studies
Heart & lung assessment
Infection screening

Preparation

Medical stabilisation
Donor evaluation
Counselling for family

Transplant Surgery

Dedicated transplant ICU
Expert surgical team
Continuous monitoring

Recovery

Regular follow-ups
Medication management
Monitoring for rejection

Built around safety

Transplant Infrastructure and Facilities

Dedicated Transplant ICU

Specialised intensive care for pre- and post-transplant patients with round-the-clock monitoring.

Modular Operation Theatres

Advanced surgical suites equipped with the latest technology for precision and safety.

Advanced Imaging

High-end CT, MRI and ultrasound systems for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Infection-Controlled Environment

Strict protocols and sterile infrastructure that minimise infection risk and protect every patient.

Life after transplant

A liver Transplant Gives Most Patients a Genuine Second Chance at a Full Life.

Return to normal daily activities and work

Enjoy a balanced, nutritious diet

Exercise and rebuild strength gradually

Stay healthy with lifelong expert guidance

Director · Transplant Programme

Dr Gaurav Chaubal

Liver, Pancreas & Intestine Transplant & HPB Surgery

MBBS, Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai
MS General Surgery (Gold Medal), AIIMS New Delhi
MCh Surgical Gastroenterology, AIIMS New Delhi
Fellowship, Multi-organ Abdominal Transplant, Duke University, USA
GI Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital
Liver surgery training at Seoul National and Samsung Medical Centre, South Korea

The surgeon behind the programme

Experience you Can Lean on, at One of the Most Demanding Moments of your Life.

Dr Gaurav Chaubal has more than a decade of dedicated liver transplant experience. He was an integral part of his team's first 250 liver transplants at Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, and went on to lead abdominal transplantation and HPB surgery as chief surgeon at Jupiter Hospitals. Patients and families often note that he is calm under pressure, takes time to explain things clearly, and stays involved well into the recovery phase.

His work includes several recognised firsts in Maharashtra. These procedures were not routine at the time; they required specialist training and a willingness to take on cases that had no established local pathway.

First in MaharashtraPancreas Transplant

First in MaharashtraAdult Dual-Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplant

First in MaharashtraDeceased & Living Donor Small Intestinal Transplant

First in MaharashtraSimultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant

SpecialisedAuxiliary Transplant for Paediatric Acute Liver Failure

SpecialisedMonosegment Graft Transplant for Infants

More on Dr Chaubal's profile: Max Healthcare · Practo · Transplant Counsellor

Questions families ask us

Frequently Asked Questions About Liver Transplant

When is a liver transplant actually necessary? +

A transplant is the right option when the liver can no longer carry out its essential work. This is most often the case in advanced cirrhosis, sudden (acute) liver failure, certain liver cancers, and some inherited metabolic disorders. The earlier a patient is evaluated, the more options remain available, so it is worth seeking an opinion rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.

Is donating part of my liver safe? +

For carefully selected donors, yes. Because the liver regenerates, both the donated portion and the donor's remaining liver grow back to near-normal size within a few months. Every potential donor goes through a thorough evaluation, and a donation only proceeds when it is safe for them. The donor's wellbeing always comes first.

How long does recovery take? +

Most recipients are discharged within two to three weeks and gradually return to routine life over the following two to three months. After discharge, patients take medication to prevent rejection and attend regular follow-ups. For most people, this becomes a manageable part of daily life rather than an ongoing burden.

What happens if I'm not yet a transplant candidate? +

Not every liver problem needs a transplant. Many conditions are managed with medication, lifestyle changes and close monitoring. Some, like early fatty liver, can be reversed with the right intervention. A full evaluation clarifies exactly where things stand and what the safest next step is.

Where can I consult Dr Chaubal? +

Dr Gaurav Chaubal consults and operates across leading hospitals in Mumbai and Pune. Requesting a call back is the quickest way to start. The team will advise on which reports to carry and help arrange an evaluation appointment.

Take the first step

Worried About a Liver Diagnosis? Bring your Reports and Questions.

A clear evaluation is usually the most reassuring thing a patient can do. It gives a real picture of where things stand and what is actually needed.

Request a Call Back Meet Dr. Chaubal