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What is a Deceased Donor Liver Transplant?

A deceased donor liver transplant, also called a cadaveric liver transplant, replaces a patient's failing liver with a healthy liver from a brain-dead donor whose family has consented to organ donation. For patients with end-stage liver disease who do not have a suitable living donor, it is often the only path to survival. At Liver Surgeons in Delhi, Dr. Ashish George and his team perform deceased donor liver transplants under the strict national framework set by NOTTO, so that every organ is allocated fairly to the patient who needs it most. Families across Delhi NCR and the rest of India come to us because deceased donor transplantation demands two things at once: an experienced surgical team and a well-run coordination system that can act the moment an organ becomes available.

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The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.

  • successful transplants
    1000+
    successful liver transplants
  • infrastructure
    24/7
    organ retrieval and ICU coordination
  • success rate
    90%
    one-year survival for deceased donor transplants
  • affordable cost
    15+
    years of transplant experience

Deceased Donor vs Living Donor Transplant

Both procedures can be life-saving, and the right choice depends on your condition and whether a suitable donor is available in your family.

Deceased Donor

Uses a liver from a brain-dead donor allocated through NOTTO. It suits patients who have no living donor, or whose family members are not a match.

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Living Donor

Uses a portion of the liver from a healthy relative and can be planned in advance, avoiding the wait for an organ.

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Split Liver Transplant

For some patients, a single deceased donor liver can be divided through a split liver transplant, allowing two recipients, often one adult and one child, to benefit from one donated organ.

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Liver Transplant
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Deceased Donor Liver Transplant

Advanced surgical solutions for lasting pain relief and restored mobility

Why Choose Liver Surgeons for Deceased Donor Transplants?

Our deceased donor programme is one of the most active in Delhi NCR, built around ethical, NOTTO-compliant processes and strong post-operative care.

  • Ethical, transparent allocation. Fully NOTTO-compliant, with no commercial dealings, and clear communication about your waitlist status and MELD score.
  • Experienced surgical team. Led by Dr. Ashish George, with over 15 years of experience in complex deceased donor liver transplants and training from leading transplant centres in the USA and Europe.
  • Rapid coordination. A 24/7 organ retrieval and transplant coordination team, so no time is lost when a matching liver becomes available.
  • Complete aftercare. Structured post-transplant monitoring, nutrition counselling and rehabilitation support for every patient.

Organ Allocation and the MELD Score System

How Are Deceased Donor Livers Allocated in India?

Organ allocation in India is governed by NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation). Priority for a deceased donor liver is decided by:

  • MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease): a scale from 6 to 40 that predicts three-month survival. A higher score means a more urgent need and a higher position on the list.
  • Medical urgency: critical cases such as acute liver failure receive top priority.
  • Geographical proximity: organs are first offered to patients within the same state or region, such as Delhi or Haryana.

Understanding Your MELD Score

Your MELD score is calculated from bilirubin, INR (blood clotting), creatinine and sodium levels. Our transplant team helps you understand your score, how it affects your waitlist priority, and how it is likely to change over time. Scores are reviewed regularly, so your position reflects your current condition.

Who Is Eligible for a Deceased Donor Liver Transplant?

Patient Eligibility

  • A diagnosis of irreversible liver failure, such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis.
  • A MELD score of 15 or above, or a recognised exception such as liver cancer within transplant criteria.
  • No active, uncontrolled infection or other condition (for example, unstable heart disease) that would make surgery unsafe.

Donor Eligibility

  • A brain-dead donor with consent from the family or through the organ donor registry.
  • Generally aged between 5 and 70 years, with a healthy liver confirmed through clinical and laboratory assessment.
  • No history of chronic liver disease, cancer, or transmissible infection such as HIV or active hepatitis.

The Deceased Donor Transplant Process

Step 1: Waitlist Registration

We calculate your MELD score from your medical reports and complete your NOTTO registration, handling the paperwork on your behalf.

Step 2: Organ Matching

When a donor liver becomes available, NOTTO's allocation system matches it to the most suitable and most urgent patient in the region. The average waiting time at our centre is around 4 to 8 months, depending on your MELD score and blood group.

Step 3: Surgery and Recovery

The transplant is performed by Dr. Ashish George's team and takes roughly 6 to 12 hours. Most patients spend 7 to 10 days in hospital, followed by a recovery period of about three months. You will begin immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection, supported by close follow-up.

Patients with combined liver and kidney failure may be evaluated for a combined liver and kidney transplant, and children requiring a deceased donor organ are cared for through our paediatric liver transplant programme.

Cost of a Deceased Donor Liver Transplant in Delhi

A deceased donor liver transplant at our centre typically costs in the range of ₹25 to ₹35 lakh, covering surgery, hospital stay and initial post-transplant care. The exact figure depends on your condition, length of stay and any complications. We offer insurance support and EMI options, and our team gives you a clear, itemised estimate before you proceed.

Why Delhi and Gurgaon for Liver Transplants?

A NOTTO hub.

Delhi NCR has one of India's highest levels of deceased donor organ availability, with allocation streamlined through NOTTO's regional coordination.

Advanced infrastructure.

Round-the-clock organ retrieval teams, certified ICUs for donor maintenance and post-transplant care, and dedicated transplant theatres with modern organ preservation systems.

Skilled transplant surgeons.

More than 15 years of experience in complex deceased donor transplants, with specialist teams for both adult and paediatric patients and training from leading international centres.

Our Results

  • 500+ deceased donor liver transplants performed since 2015
  • 90% one-year survival, above the national average
  • 85% of patients return to normal life within a year of transplant

Don't Let the Waitlist Define Your Future

Early registration and an accurate MELD score can make all the difference. Speak to our transplant team about getting listed
and understanding your options.

Book Now » WhatsApp Call +91 93101 39800

Frequently Asked Questions

They are the same procedure. "Cadaveric" and "deceased donor" both refer to a transplant using a liver donated by a brain-dead donor, as opposed to a living donor transplant.
At our centre the average wait is around 4 to 8 months, depending on your MELD score and blood group. Patients with higher urgency are prioritised.
It typically ranges from ₹25 to ₹35 lakh, including surgery and initial post-transplant care. We provide insurance support and EMI options, and share a detailed estimate in advance.
No. NOTTO allows registration at a single centre to keep allocation fair for everyone.
Scores are reviewed regularly. If your condition worsens your priority rises, and if it improves your position may move lower, which reflects a genuinely lower immediate risk.
Rejection is possible but usually manageable. You will take immunosuppressive medication to prevent it, with regular monitoring to catch and treat any early signs.
Our coordinators work to keep you transplant-ready at all times. If you are temporarily unfit, the organ is allocated to the next most suitable patient under NOTTO protocol, and you keep your place for the next match.
Both have excellent outcomes in experienced hands. A living donor transplant can be scheduled sooner, while a deceased donor transplant is the right route when no living donor is available.
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