Mumbai man, 30, gets second liver transplant at Jaslok, 19 years after first at age 11

Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai has successfully performed a second liver transplant on Jitin Shirke, 30. His first transplant was in December 2007, about 19 years ago. Jitin was found to have autoimmune cirrhosis in childhood and underwent his first liver transplant at the age of 11.

That first operation was performed at another Mumbai hospital by Dr S K Mathur, then a senior liver transplant surgeon. Jitin's father donated the left half of his liver at the time. Jitin later built a career and returned to ordinary daily life.

From mid-February 2026, he faced another life-threatening liver problem. His body rejected the transplanted liver, a condition described as refractory chronic rejection. This made a second transplant necessary.

In February 2026, a routine blood test suddenly showed that his liver function had deteriorated badly. His condition kept worsening despite several tests and treatment. He then sought a second opinion from Dr Abha Nagral, chief hepatologist and liver transplant physician in gastroenterology at Jaslok Hospital. Dr Nagral had been part of Jitin's care team after the first transplant. After reviewing his medical history and considering treatment options, the team evaluated him for a second transplant.

In late June, the ammonia level in Jitin's body rose to a dangerous level and he lost consciousness. He had to be admitted to the hospital's ICU immediately. As his liver function fell sharply, the team hastened the transplant process. His mother's liver was found suitable, and the operation was successfully carried out on July 5, 2026. His mother donated the right half of her liver. According to the hospital, Jitin's health is now improving and he has returned to work.

Dr Abha Nagral, director of gastroenterology at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, said: "Jitin's journey shows the complexities of long-term care of a transplanted liver. His health deteriorated even after medical treatment, and a second transplant then became necessary. This case shows that lifelong medication after a transplant, regular follow-up and timely medical intervention are extremely important."

Dr Amit Rastogi, consultant in liver transplant surgery at the hospital, said: "A second liver transplant, especially when the patient is critically ill, is very challenging from both technical and clinical points of view. Jitin's successful transplant is the result of precise planning and close coordination among the transplant, surgical and critical-care teams. His mother's decision to donate part of her liver was crucial in making this surgery possible."

Dr S K Mathur, chairman, ZTCC, said: "Jitin's journey shows that organ donation can change lives and save lives. I performed his first transplant when he was 11, when his father came forward to donate part of his liver even while going through an extremely difficult financial period. In 2007, very few hospitals were doing living donor liver transplants. Finding the right living donor and getting timely transplant facilities are essential, yet in such cases the surgical skill to repeat a liver transplant and the presence of experienced hepatologists and intensivists are extremely important for success. To reduce dependence on living donors, more awareness is needed about organ donation after brain stem death."

Jitendra Hariyan, CEO of Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, said: "Jitin's journey shows the importance of clinical skill, collaboration among different departments and continuous patient care in complex medical cases. We are proud of all the teams that came together to help him. We are also deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity and sacrifice shown by his parents."

According to the hospital, Jitin's improvement is the result of the combined efforts of experts in hepatology, anaesthesia, critical care, nursing and other clinical services, along with Jaslok's transplant and surgical teams.

Jitin Shirke, who has undergone both the first and second liver transplants, said: "I am heartily thankful to Dr Abha Nagral, Dr S K Mathur, Dr Amit Rastogi and the entire team at Jaslok Hospital for taking care of me in this difficult time, guiding me well and standing by me at every step. I also sincerely thank the transplant surgeons, critical-care experts, nurses and everyone else who worked day and night to improve my health. I will always be indebted to my parents, who gave part of their liver to save my life, and to my fiancee, who has been with me every moment. With the support of my family, I am now recovering and returning to work, and I feel deep happiness and gratitude."