Welcome
Liver Transplant Surgeon - Dr. Ilango Sethu
> 300 Transplant experience as a lead surgeon
Cutting edge news
DDLT on a patient with a permanent pacemaker
A 65-year-old lady presented to us with End stage liver disease from NASH cirrhosis. She was on a permanent pacemaker, which causes difficulty in the heart's tolerance of the new liver's blood flow.
We modified our reperfusion to suit the heart's response and were able to get a wonderful result.
Dr. Ilango Sethu liver outreach clinics
Expert in Liver Transplant and Liver surgery
Our Mission
Our goal is to make adult and pediatric liver transplant accessible to all patients suffering from end-stage liver failure and liver cancer. Under the expertise of Dr. Ilango Sethu, we provide comprehensive liver transplant services to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for a new lease on life.
Liver Transplant Services at Royal Care Superspecialty Hospital: Expert, Ethical, and Evidence-Based
Liver Transplant Services Led by Dr Ilango Sethu
- 25 years of surgical experience and specialized training from leading global centres
- Led the only successful liver transplant from octogenarian donors
- One of the few surgeons who can do < 5 kg recipient pediatric liver transplant surgery
- > 300 Transplant procedures as a lead surgeon
Why choose us?
Experienced Surgical Leadership
- 26 years of independent surgical practice across various genres.
- One of the three US-trained transplant surgeons in Tamilnadu
- Experience of builidng and running 6 major departments - GI surgery, HPB surgery and Transplant across 3 states
Round-the-Clock Liver ICU care
- Largest ICU with round the clock senior ICU physicians - the best in Coimbatore
- Only hepatologist with hepatology and ICU training in India (Dr. Hemamala)
- Rich experience in plasmaphresis for ACLF and severe alcoholic hepatitis
- In-house cardiac transplant team for support in pulmonary hypertension and cardiac co-morbidities
Advanced Infrastructure Supporting Our Surgical Practice
- The best in operating room facilities - with ready availability of state of the art bleeding control devices
- Best in-class blood bank for component therapy
Services Offered
Transplant Evaluation & Listing:
We offer a structured same-day assessment and expedited listing for super-urgent indications, ensuring access to adult and pediatric liver transplant services when needed.
Living Donor Transplant Program:
Our program includes safe donor evaluation, advanced donor hepatectomy.
We do reduced graft for pediatric transplants.
Deceased Donor Transplantation:
We prioritize allocation based on MELD/PELD scores, with exception criteria for conditions such as HCC, HPS, and UCDs.
Pediatric Transplants:
Our specialized protocols address biliary atresia, metabolic liver disease, and acute liver failure in children.
Liver Support & Bridging Therapies:
We provide CVVHDF, TIPS, paracentesis clinics, and early identification of transplant candidacy to support patients effectively.
Liver Cancer surgery
We provide dedicated liver cancer cancer. As a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon for more than 23 years, we provide expertise to treat all stages of liver cancer and provide a masterful guidance to your treatment.
Please see our dedicated page for liver cancer treatment.
About Dr. Ilango Sethu
Know your surgeon
Dr. Ilango Sethu
MCh (GI & HPB Surgery), Fellow American College of Surgeons
ASTS Multiorgan Transplant fellowship at UPMC, Pittsburgh
Pediatric liver transplant fellowship at NCCHD, Tokyo, Japan
Head, Liver Transplant Surgery, Royal Care Superspecialty Hospital
Dr. Ilango Sethu is a distinguished surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric liver transplant and gastrointestinal surgery, boasting over two decades of experience in complex HPB surgery and liver transplantation. His expertise encompasses both adult and pediatric liver transplantation, underscoring his deep commitment to evidence-based and ethical surgical care.
He completed his MCh in GI and HPB Surgery from Madras Medical College, followed by advanced fellowship training in pediatric liver transplantation at NCCHD, Tokyo, Japan, and transplant fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), USA. Dr. Ilango Sethu is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Clinical Leadership and Vision
Currently, Dr. Ilango heads the Liver Transplant and Abdominal multi-organ program at Royal Care Superspecialty Hospital, where he leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to achieving the highest standards in liver transplant services and outcomes.
He has previously led transplant programs at leading hospitals across Chennai, Bangalore, and Vellore.
His vision is to establish a center of excellence in liver care in Coimbatore, focusing on timely referral, early transplant listing, and long-term survivorship.
Areas of Expertise
- Adult and pediatric liver transplantation (DDLT & LDLT)
- Surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and liver metastases
- Biliary reconstruction and post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries
- Minimally invasive and robotic GI surgery
- Management of acute liver failure and metabolic liver diseases in children
Academic Contributions
Dr. Ilango is a dedicated academic, actively involved in postgraduate training and algorithm-based clinical education. He has contributed to State transplant guidelines, especially in defining listing criteria for complex metabolic and pediatric indications. Additionally, he mentors young surgeons in surgical decision-making, scoring systems, and transplant readiness.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Ilango believes that every liver transplant must be timely, safe, and justifiable. He emphasizes transparent communication with patients and families, structured evaluation pathways, and patient-specific planning. His approach blends surgical precision with compassionate care, ensuring that each patient receives the best possible outcome.