Vilasrao Deshmukh put on life-support Union minister is rushed to Chennai’s Global Hospital after both his kidneys fail and cancer cells are found in his liver due to complications arising out of cirrhosis; doctors to take a call on a transplant only after his condition stabilises

Vilasrao Deshmukh put on life-support

Union minister is rushed to Chennai’s Global Hospital after both his kidneys fail and cancer cells are found in his liver due to complications arising out of cirrhosis; doctors to take a call on a transplant only after his condition stabilises

While Union minister for science and technology Vilasrao Deshmukh, 67, continues to be on life-support, doctors say they will wait for him to stabilise before they take a call on a liver transplant. Deshmukh was admitted to the Global Hospital in Chennai on Tuesday after complications from liver cirrhosis led to failure of both his kidneys. Doctors attending to him said he also has hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), another complication of liver cirrhosis. Also called malignant hepatoma, it is the most common type of liver cancer. Sources close to Deshmukh claim that he had been struggling with serious health ailments for a year now. He was admitted in the Breach Candy Hospital last week, where he spent almost three days. After his condition worsened, however, his family decided to shift him to Global Hospital via air-ambulance. According to the Global Hospital doctors, fluids have accumulated in the minister’s stomach, which led to infection and resulted in acute kidney failure. Sources claim that he was shifted from Mumbai to this hospital for liver transplant. During his three-day stay in Breach Candy Hospital, the assistant of Dr Mohamed Rela, who is well-known for his expertise on liver transplantation, examined and reported Deshmukh’s details to him. Sources add that Deshmukh was put on life-support as soon as he was admitted in the Chennai hospital. Once his condition stabilises, the doctors will focus on improving his kidney functions through medication. Health experts say prognosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are dependent on many factors, especially the size of the tumour and the stage of growth it is in. The grade of a tumour also affects treatment. High-grade tumours will have a poor prognosis, while low-grade ones may go unnoticed for several years. Deshmukh had reportedly been suffering from health ailments for a year now, but family members, relatives and close friends have been reluctant to open up on this issue. Dr Rakesh Rai, liver transplant surgeon at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, says, “Renal failure associated with liver failure is very common. Renal failure caused by liver cirrhosis is reversible. Chennai is a popular destination for liver cirrhosis patients who require liver transplants. Cadaver donations are high there and that’s why it is more popular.” Dr Sanjay Nagral, liver transplant surgeon at Jaslok Hospital and chairperson of liver committee of zonal transplant coordination centre, suggests that a transplant is not a given in all liver cirrhosis cases. “Only 10-20% of liver cirrhosis patients require transplant and that too only in the advanced stages. Right treatment can help a significant number of liver cirrhosis patients to live a normal life without a liver transplant.” He adds that although in Mumbai the demand for liver transplant is high, the lack of cadaver donations is a cause for worry. “This year, cadaver donations have picked up. I hope it improves further.”