Why Choose a Split Liver Transplant?
Two lives from one donor. A single liver, precisely divided, can save both an adult and a child the most ethical possible use of a scarce organ.
A lifeline for children. Young patients often wait years for a size-matched organ. A split liver dramatically shortens that wait.
Proven outcomes. In experienced hands, graft and patient survival for split transplants are comparable to whole-liver transplants.
The Science of Split Liver Transplantation
Anatomical precision. The donor liver is divided into a left lateral segment (about 20%, transplanted into a child) and a right lobe (about 80%, transplanted into an adult).
Liver regeneration. Both segments regrow toward full functional size in their recipients within about 6–8 weeks.
Ideal candidates. Most often a paediatric–adult pair — for example, a child with biliary atresia and an adult with cirrhosis. In rarer cases, when the liver is large enough, two adults can be treated.
Where a suitable deceased-donor liver isn't available, families may instead be evaluated for a living donor liver transplant, or for a dual-lobe liver transplant that combines grafts from two living donors for a single large recipient.
Split Liver vs Whole Liver Transplant
| Factor |
Split liver transplant |
Whole liver transplant |
| Organ availability |
One donor liver treats two recipients |
One donor, one recipient |
| Waitlist time |
Shorter, especially for children |
Longer — often 6–18 months |
| Technical complexity |
Higher — needs a specialist team |
Standard |
| Outcomes |
Comparable graft survival in expert hands |
Slightly higher in routine cases |
Best suited to: children needing an urgent transplant, and high-demand regions such as Delhi where donor organs must be used to their fullest.
Technical Challenges — and How Our Delhi Team Handles Them
Vascular & biliary anatomy. The division must preserve the blood supply and bile ducts of both grafts — millimetre-level work.
Graft-size matching. A paediatric recipient needs a precisely sized left lateral segment, planned in advance.
Speed. Both grafts must be transplanted within a tight window to stay viable.
How we excel: 3D imaging and virtual pre-surgical planning from CT/MRI, hybrid theatres with real-time imaging, and a dedicated split-liver team led by Dr. Ashish George working alongside paediatric specialists.
Split Liver Transplant Outcomes at Our Delhi Centre
Around 85% one-year survival for both recipients.
Bile-leak and vascular complication rates kept low through microsurgical technique.
Strong paediatric results, with most children returning to school and normal growth within a year.
After surgery, every recipient moves into structured post-transplant monitoring and lifelong immunosuppressive therapy to protect the new graft.
Choosing the Best Split Liver Transplant Hospital & Surgeon in Delhi
Split liver transplantation is not routine surgery — it should only be done by a high-volume team that performs it regularly. When you compare a split liver transplant hospital or surgeon in Delhi, weigh what truly drives outcomes: the surgeon's specific split-liver experience, whether the centre runs both adult and paediatric transplant programmes together, 24/7 ICU and organ-retrieval capability, advanced 3D surgical planning, and transparent, NOTTO-compliant ethics.
On every one of these measures, Dr. Ashish George and the Liver Surgeons team rank among Delhi's most experienced split liver transplant specialists — one of Delhi NCR's most active split-liver programmes, combined adult–paediatric expertise under one roof, and complete pre- and post-transplant care. For more on evaluating a surgeon, see our guide on how to find the best liver transplant surgeon in Delhi.
Cost of a Split Liver Transplant in Delhi
A split liver transplant at our Delhi centre typically costs in the range of ₹30–40 lakh per recipient, covering surgery, hospital stay and initial post-transplant care. The exact figure depends on the recipient's condition and length of stay. We offer insurance support and give a clear, itemised estimate before you proceed.
