Pune Couple Dies Days Apart After Liver Transplant, Hospital Faces Probe

A tragic case has come to light in Pune, where a couple died within a week of undergoing a liver transplant procedure at Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Deccan.

Bapu Balkrishna Komkar (49) had been suffering from end-stage liver disease and needed an urgent transplant. His wife, Kamini Komkar (42), chose to donate a part of her liver to save him. The surgery was carried out on 15 August 2025.

Two days later, on 17 August, Bapu died due to cardiogenic shock, a condition in which the heart suddenly fails to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Kamini initially appeared stable after donating part of her liver. However, she developed complications and died on 21 or 22 August, with doctors citing septic shock and multi-organ dysfunction as the cause.

The Maharashtra health department has issued a notice to the hospital, asking it to provide complete details of the procedure, including pre-operative assessments, surgical protocols, and post-operative care records. A three-member committee will investigate whether medical protocols were properly followed.

In a statement, Sahyadri Hospital expressed condolences to the family and said that all safety checks, risk counselling, and clinical protocols were followed. The hospital has assured full cooperation with the ongoing inquiry.

Understanding the Medical Risks

Liver transplantation is often the only option for patients with severe liver disease. In living donor transplants, a healthy person donates a portion of their liver, which then regenerates in both donor and recipient.

While survival rates for recipients in India are reported to be 85–90% at one year, both donors and recipients face risks. For recipients, complications can include bleeding, infections, or rejection of the new organ. For donors, although deaths are very rare, risks include bile leaks, infections, and, in exceptional cases, life-threatening complications.

India has become a global leader in living donor liver transplants. In 2022 alone, 3,920 liver transplants were performed in the country, of which 3,183 were from living donors. This is the highest number of living donor liver transplants performed worldwide. However, earlier from 2013, national data recorded at least seven donor deaths in around 2,500 transplants, highlighting the importance of strong monitoring systems.

A Similar Case in Bengaluru

In September 2024, a 33-year-old woman named Archana Kamath from Bengaluru died after donating part of her liver to a relative. Although her surgery was initially deemed successful, she later developed an infection and died shortly after discharge. The case sparked national debate about donor safety and the need for better long-term follow-up of living donors.

Why This Matters

The Pune case has raised questions on the monitoring of high-risk transplant surgeries in private hospitals. Authorities said the inquiry report will determine if further action is required.

As India continues to perform thousands of liver transplants each year, health experts emphasize the importance of donor safety, transparent reporting of complications, and strict adherence to medical guidelines to protect both patients and donors.

(Rh/Eth/MSM)