Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli, Marks a Healthcare Breakthrough with the Region’s First Liver Transplant

TIRUNELVELI, TAMIL NADU – September, 2025 – A successful liver transplant at Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli, gave a new lease of life to a 55-year-old man battling end-stage liver failure. For families in Southern Tamil Nadu, this marks the arrival of advanced transplant care closer to home—ending the long journeys to metro cities in search of hope.

Led by Dr. Swaminathan Sambandam, Senior Consultant & Lead – Multi-Organ Transplant, the surgery was performed on September 9, 2025. This historic achievement—the first-ever liver transplant in the region—redefines what is possible for a Tier 3 city like Tirunelveli and brings world-class care within reach of local communities.

Reflecting on the impact, Dr. Swaminathan Sambandam said:
“For the patient and his family, this transplant means life, hope, and time together. For the people of Southern Tamil Nadu, it means that world-class care is no longer far away. This is why we do what we do—not just to treat, but to transform lives.”

The patient is recovering well in Kauvery’s specialized transplant ICU, under the care of a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

Highlighting the larger message, Dr. K. Lakshmanan, Medical Administrator, Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli, added:
“This moment is bigger than one surgery. It shows the power of organ donation and advanced care reaching people where they live. A single donor can save up to eight lives, and this transplant is proof of how that gift touches not only a patient, but an entire community.”

The transplant was facilitated through Transtan (Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu), and Kauvery Hospital expresses its profound gratitude to the donor’s family for turning their personal loss into a life-giving gift.