Liver Transplant Success Rate in India (2026): What the Numbers Really Mean

If you are searching for "liver transplant success rate in India," you probably want a simple percentage and a clear answer. That makes sense. But "success rate" in transplant medicine is not one single number. It can mean:

• Survival after surgery (30 days, 1 year, 5 years)
• How well the transplanted liver keeps working (graft survival)
• Short-term surgical recovery (often quoted loosely, and not the same as long-term outcomes)

This article explains the reported survival rates from published sources, what changes those numbers, and what questions to ask a hospital so you do not get misled by a headline figure.

Quick Answer: What Survival Rates in India Often Look Like (From Published Data)

Here are realistic reference points taken from published Indian datasets and peer-reviewed reports. These are not guarantees. They are a guide to help you understand what outcomes look like when reported properly.

Type of data (India)	1-year survival	3-year survival	5-year survival
Multicentre deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT), adults (11 centres)	87.2%	80.4%	76.6%
Same multicentre DDLT dataset, children	80.6%	80.6%	80.6%
Large published pediatric living donor series (200 cases)	94%	(not stated in the abstract)	87% (actuarial)

These numbers come from a multicentre India DDLT report and a large pediatric living donor series. (PubMed)

One more important context point: India performs a very large number of living donor liver transplants (LDLT), so many "India success rate" blogs blend LDLT and DDLT unintentionally. That makes comparisons messy unless the article clearly separates them. (The National Medical Journal of India)

India's Liver Transplant Landscape (Why Outcomes Can Differ by City and Centre)

India's transplant ecosystem has expanded significantly. A 2025 overview in the National Medical Journal of India reported 183 registered centres performing 3,920 liver transplants, and noted that India performed the largest number of living donor liver transplants (3,183) in that dataset. (The National Medical Journal of India)

What this means for a patient:

• Outcomes can vary between centres because each one treats patients with different levels of complexity and risk.
• Centres that accept higher-risk or more complex patients may have lower published survival rates, even if their quality of care is outstanding.

What "Success Rate" Actually Means (So You Compare Like for Like)

1) Patient survival

This is what most families mean. It answers: "How many patients are alive at 1 year or 5 years after transplant?"

The multicentre India DDLT dataset is a good example of survival reported clearly across 1, 3, and 5 years. (PubMed)

2) Graft survival

This tracks whether the transplanted liver continues to function well. A patient can be alive but have graft-related complications, so graft survival can be a stricter measure.

3) "Surgery was successful."

This is vague. It usually means the operation and early recovery went well. It does not tell you what happens at 1 year or 5 years.

Rule of thumb: when someone quotes a success rate, ask two things immediately:

• "Is this patient survival or graft survival?"
• "Is this 30-day, 1-year, or 5-year data?"

Liver Transplant Survival Rates in India (What Studies Report)

Deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT), India multicentre outcomes

A 2024 multicentre report (11 centres, 362 DDLTs) reported:

• Adults: 87.2% (1 year), 80.4% (3 years), 76.6% (5 years)
• Children: 80.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years (in that dataset) (PubMed)

Why this matters: multicentre data tends to be more realistic than a single best-performing centre's marketing numbers.

Living donor liver transplant (LDLT), what reviews and centres often report

Many experienced LDLT programmes report strong outcomes, and India's LDLT ecosystem is well established. A peer-reviewed review on LDLT in India notes that many centres report around 85% to 90% 1-year survival, and it highlights that infections are a major driver of early mortality. (PMC)

Because LDLT timing can be planned, it may allow transplant before the patient becomes critically ill, which can improve overall outcomes in the real world.

Pediatric LDLT outcomes (large Indian series)

A published series of 200 pediatric living donor liver transplants reported:

• 94% 1-year survival
• 87% 5-year actuarial survival (Indian Pediatrics)

These numbers are helpful for context, but pediatric outcomes still depend heavily on diagnosis, nutritional status, infections, and follow-up.

LDLT vs DDLT in India: What's Different and Why It Changes "Success Rate"

Living donor liver transplant (LDLT)

• A healthy living donor donates a portion of the liver.
• A key benefit is reduced waiting time, so the surgery can happen before severe deterioration.

India's overall transplant profile is strongly LDLT-led, which is why many Indian success-rate discussions lean on LDLT experience, even when the patient may be considering DDLT. (The National Medical Journal of India)

Deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT)

• The organ comes from a deceased donor system.
• Outcomes can still be excellent, and the multicentre India DDLT dataset provides a grounded benchmark over 5 years. (PubMed)

Are complications different?

Some systematic reviews show LDLT can have higher rates of certain biliary complications compared with DDLT, even while outcomes remain strong in good programmes. This is why it is important to ask about complication management and follow-up systems, not just survival percentages. (PMC)

What Affects Liver Transplant Success the Most

This is where the conversation becomes more useful than just chasing a single number.

1) How sick the patient is at the time of transplant

Severity of illness affects risk. Tools like MELD are used clinically to describe severity and help with decision-making, though the real picture also includes infections, nutrition, kidney function, and overall resilience.

Research from large LDLT cohorts has explored MELD-based predictors and risk models for patient and graft outcomes. (PubMed)

2) Infection control (especially early after transplant)

Early outcomes are strongly influenced by infection prevention and rapid treatment. India-focused LDLT literature highlights infection as a key driver of early mortality and complications. (PMC)

3) Donor and graft factors (particularly relevant in DDLT)

Donor characteristics, organ preservation time, and graft quality can influence early graft function and complications. This is another reason you should not compare centres only on one headline survival number. (PubMed)

4) Follow-up discipline and medication adherence

Transplant success is not just a surgery. It is long-term management: blood tests, dose adjustments, monitoring for rejection, infection surveillance, and managing long-term risks linked with immunosuppression.

A widely cited practical guidance report for long-term management of liver transplant recipients emphasises modifiable risks related to immunosuppression and follow-up care. (Lippincott Journals)

How to Judge a Hospital's "Success Rate" Claims (Without Getting Misled)

Use these questions in a consultation. They are simple, but they separate real reporting from marketing.

Questions to ask

• "Is this patient survival or graft survival?"
• "Is this number for 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years?"
• "Is it for LDLT, DDLT, or combined?"
• "Does your outcome number include high-risk cases (ICU patients, re-transplants, combined transplants)?"
• "What are your most common early complications, and how do you prevent them?"
• "What is your follow-up schedule in the first year, and who coordinates post-transplant care?"

Red flags

• A perfect success rate with no timeframe
• No discussion of infections, rejection, bile duct complications, or follow-up
• Only "surgery was successful" language without 1-year and 5-year reporting.

How Patients Can Improve Outcomes (Before and After Surgery)

You cannot control everything, but you can reduce avoidable risks.

Before transplant

• Get evaluated early, even if you are "managing for now." Timing matters.
• Treat infections seriously. Do not ignore fevers or recurrent infections.
• Focus on nutrition and strength as advised, because better baseline health supports recovery.
• Keep a complete list of medications, alcohol history (if any), and past hospital admissions. Transparency helps the team plan safely.

After transplant

• Never miss immunosuppressant doses. If you vomit after taking medicines, ask the transplant team what to do.
• Stick to lab schedules. Dose adjustments often depend on blood tests.
• Maintain strict infection precautions in the early months (as guided by your team).
• Ask your transplant team for a written "warning signs" list and emergency plan.

Long-term management guidance and post-transplant care literature consistently emphasise structured follow-up and risk-factor management. (Lippincott Journals)

When to Seek Urgent Help After a Liver Transplant

It is safer to call early than to wait.

NHS Blood and Transplant lists warning signs where patients should contact their transplant team urgently, including:

• Fever (38°C or above)
• Jaundice (yellow eyes or skin)
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath or chest pain
• Little or no urine, or feeling suddenly very unwell (nhsbt.nhs.uk)

These symptoms can signal infection, rejection, bile duct complications, medication issues, or other urgent problems.

FAQs

What is a good liver transplant success rate in India?

A "good" rate depends on the timeframe and type of transplant. Published multicentre India DDLT data reports adult survival around 87% at 1 year and about 77% at 5 years. 

Why do some blogs claim 95% success rate?

Often, it is a short-term figure (like early survival) or a selective centre-reported outcome, and it may not clarify whether it is LDLT, DDLT, adult, or pediatric. A national overview notes that outcomes "up to 95%" have been reported in some contexts, but it is not a universal rate for every patient and centre. 

Is a living donor transplant better than a deceased donor transplant?

There are different options. LDLT can reduce waiting time and allow planned surgery, which can help overall outcomes in practice. DDLT outcomes can also be excellent, and India has published multicentre DDLT results with strong 1 to 5-year survival. 

What factors reduce success rates the most?

Late presentation (very sick at transplant), infections, major early complications, poor follow-up adherence, and missed medications are major contributors. India-focused LDLT literature highlights infection as a key early risk. 

What matters more than the headline number when choosing a centre?

A centre's follow-up system, infection protocols, complication management, transparency in reporting, and the clinical team's experience with your specific condition.