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Best Hepatobiliary Specialists for Liver Resection in Chennai, India

This page lists 2 liver resection doctors in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

Quick answer

This page lists 2 liver resection doctors in Chennai, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

About Liver Resection doctors in Chennai, India

This directory is based on doctors currently listed in GAF Healthcare's registry. Clinical suitability varies by patient; a doctor should review your history and investigations before any treatment decision.

Liver Resection doctors

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Dr. Arul Kumar S

MBBS, MS in General Surgery, Fellowship in HPB Surgery, Fellowship in Liver Transplantation
Associate Consultant — Surgical Gastroenterology · Specialty: Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgeon
Rela Hospital Chennai, India18+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 18+ years of experience in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgeon
  • Associate Consultant, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and HPB Surgery, Rela Hospital, Chennai (Present)
  • Training in HPB Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore (2014–2016)
Expertise & Procedures
  • Live donor liver transplantation
  • Deceased donor liver transplant
  • Hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection
  • Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy)
  • Complex liver resections
View all procedures →
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgeon Experience: 18+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Rela HospitalHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL
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Image not available

Dr. Kumar Palaniappan

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, DNB Surgical Gastroenterology, Fellowship in Liver Transplantation & HPB Surgery
Clinical Lead — Laparoscopy Liver Surgery, Surgical Gastroenterology · Specialty: Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon
Rela Hospital Chennai, India20+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 20+ years of experience in Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon
  • Clinical Lead – Laparoscopy Liver Surgery, Senior Consultant Abdominal Trauma, HPB Surgery & Liver Transplantation, Rela Hospital, Chennai – Present
  • Senior Consultant Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgery, Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Chennai
Expertise & Procedures
  • Liver Transplantation (Living & Deceased Donor)
  • Laparoscopic Liver Resection
  • Hepatic Tumor Surgery
  • Whipple Procedure (Pancreaticoduodenectomy)
  • Gastrectomy
View all procedures →
Hepatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgeon Experience: 20+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Rela HospitalHospital accreditation: NABH, NABL
View Profile Book a Consultation

Hospitals where these doctors practise

Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre🇮🇳 Chennai, India
Starting from$8,000

Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre

Est. 2018
NABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditationNABL — National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation
Liver ResectionLiver Transplant & HPBCardiac SurgeryCardiology
2+
Doctors for Liver Resection
4.7
108 reviews
450+
Beds
8+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Arul Kumar SDr. Kumar Palaniappan
View Hospital Profile Enquire / Get Free Opinion

Why consider treatment in India?

Many international patients consider India for bile duct cancer / cholangiocarcinoma treatment for several reasons, including:

More affordable estimates

Competitive indicative costs compared with many other countries, for similar clinical standards.

Internationally accredited hospitals

Hospitals experienced in treating international patients.

Experienced specialists

Doctors who regularly manage similar cases.

Care coordination support

A team to help with planning, medical translation and follow-up.

About the Procedure

What is Liver Resection?

Liver resection is a surgical procedure to remove a portion of the liver affected by primary liver cancer, metastatic tumors, or bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), while preserving enough healthy liver tissue to maintain normal function. It is often the most effective curative option for localized liver tumors and can be performed via open surgery or minimally invasive techniques depending on tumor size, location, and patient fitness. India's leading HPB centers offer this procedure with outcomes comparable to Western hospitals at a fraction of the cost.

Who may be considered?

Liver Resection may be considered after a qualified specialist reviews your reports and medical history. Suitability varies from person to person and must be assessed by your treating doctor.

How does it work?

Traditional open surgery through an abdominal incision, preferred for large, multiple, or centrally located tumors requiring extensive resection.

3 approaches available for this procedure:

Open Liver Resection (Hepatectomy)

Most Common for Complex Tumors

Traditional open surgery through an abdominal incision, preferred for large, multiple, or centrally located tumors requiring extensive resection.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: $400 - $900

CT triple-phase liver, MRI with contrast, liver function tests, CBC, coagulation profile, tumor markers (AFP, CA 19-9, CEA), ECG, cardiac clearance, viral hepatitis screening

Treatment / Procedure Estimate

Estimated cost in India: $8,000 - $14,000

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~2-3 days
Hospitalisation: ~7-10 days
Recovery period (outside hospital): ~4-6 weeks recommended
Total stay: approx 4-5 weeks

Usually Included in Hospital Package

  • Surgeon and anesthetist fees
  • ICU and ward stay
  • Standard OT and surgical implants if needed
  • Routine post-op medications
  • Basic follow-up consultations

Usually Not Included

  • Pre-op advanced imaging done outside package
  • Chemotherapy or targeted therapy
  • Complications requiring extended ICU/ventilator support
  • Long-term oncology follow-up
  • Airfare and local accommodation

Recovery and follow-up

Most patients resume light activities within 3-4 weeks, with full recovery and liver regeneration typically occurring over 2-3 months; follow-up imaging and blood tests are scheduled periodically to monitor liver function and detect recurrence.

Risks

Potential risks include bleeding, bile leakage, infection, liver failure in patients with underlying liver disease, and, rarely, need for further surgery; careful pre-operative liver function assessment helps minimize these risks.

Alternatives

Depending on tumor stage and liver function, alternatives may include liver transplantation, ablation therapies (RFA/microwave), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), or systemic/targeted chemotherapy for inoperable cases.

What we need to prepare a formal estimate

Share whatever you have — the care team will confirm the final checklist after reviewing your case.

Reports required

  • Recent CT scan (triple-phase, abdomen)
  • MRI liver with contrast (if available)
  • Liver function tests (LFT)
  • Tumor marker results (AFP, CA 19-9, CEA)
  • Viral hepatitis (HBV/HCV) screening report
  • Biopsy/histopathology report if performed
  • Prior surgical or treatment history summary
  • Recent CBC and coagulation profile

Patient information needed

  • Age and general health status
  • History of liver disease or cirrhosis
  • Current medications and allergies
  • Presence of jaundice or bile duct involvement
  • Prior abdominal surgeries
  • Alcohol consumption or smoking history
  • Availability of a caregiver during recovery
  • Insurance or payment method for treatment

Costs shown are indicative planning estimates based on typical pricing across leading Indian hospitals. They are not a quote — actual pricing depends on your case complexity, hospital choice, and length of stay. Share your reports for a personalized estimate.

Want a formal estimate?

Share your reports and patient information so our care coordination team can review your case.

How this directory is built

Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Liver Resection) and procedure (Liver Resection) recorded in their profiles. Inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee a treatment outcome.

Need help with the next step?

Share your needs with our care coordination team for information about doctors and hospitals.

Common questions

FAQs about Liver Resection in Chennai, India

What is Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma?
Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) is a cancer that originates in the epithelial cells of the bile ducts, and it can occur within the liver (intrahepatic), at the junction where the liver's left and right ducts meet (perihilar, also called Klatskin tumour), or in the lower part of the duct closer to the small intestine (distal). It is classified and staged — typically using the TNM system or location-specific staging criteria — to guide treatment planning.
What are the symptoms and health risks of Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma?
Common presentations include painless jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, pale stools, persistent itching, unintentional weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and fatigue — all of which can also occur with other biliary or liver conditions. Some individuals, particularly those with intrahepatic tumours, may have no symptoms at all until the disease is at an advanced stage. These symptoms should prompt medical evaluation, but they do not on their own confirm a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.
How is Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically begins with blood tests including liver function tests and tumour markers such as CA 19-9 and CEA, though these markers are not definitive on their own. Cross-sectional imaging — such as contrast-enhanced CT, MRI with MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography), or endoscopic ultrasound — is used to characterise the tumour's location, size, and relationship to surrounding structures. Tissue confirmation through biopsy or biliary brushings during endoscopic or percutaneous procedures, combined with staging to assess lymph node involvement and distant spread, is usually necessary before a treatment plan is finalised.
How is Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma treated?
Treatment is highly individualised and depends on tumour location, stage, the patient's overall health, and liver function. For resectable tumours, surgical removal — such as liver resection or bile duct surgery — offers the best prospect of long-term disease control and is the primary curative option; in selected cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, liver transplantation may be considered within specific clinical protocols. For unresectable or metastatic disease, systemic chemotherapy (commonly gemcitabine-based regimens), targeted therapies for tumours with specific molecular alterations (such as FGFR2 fusions or IDH1 mutations), and biliary drainage procedures to relieve obstruction form the mainstays of care.
Can Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma be treated without a procedure?
When the tumour is not amenable to surgery — due to extent of disease, involvement of critical vascular structures, or the patient's fitness — chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and molecularly targeted agents represent meaningful treatment pathways that can slow progression and improve quality of life. Biliary stenting or external drainage may also be performed to relieve jaundice and reduce infection risk regardless of whether curative treatment is pursued. That said, for patients who are surgical candidates, non-surgical management alone is generally not considered curative, and the decision between approaches depends entirely on individual clinical assessment.
When is Liver Resection considered for Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma?
Liver Resection may be considered only when it is appropriate for the confirmed diagnosis and the expected benefit outweighs the individual risks. The decision may depend on symptom severity, investigation results, previous treatment, overall health and the patient's goals. A specialist should discuss alternatives and recovery before any procedure is planned.
Which doctor treats Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma?
Cholangiocarcinoma is typically evaluated and managed by a hepatobiliary (HPB) surgeon working in close collaboration with a specialist hepatologist or gastroenterologist, a medical oncologist, and an interventional radiologist or endoscopist — ideally through a dedicated multidisciplinary team (MDT). In cases where liver transplantation is being considered, a transplant hepatologist and transplant surgeon become integral to the team.
How do I choose a doctor for Bile Duct Cancer / Cholangiocarcinoma?
When selecting a centre or specialist for cholangiocarcinoma, it is worth prioritising institutions with a high-volume HPB surgery programme, demonstrated experience with complex biliary reconstructions, and access to a formal multidisciplinary tumour board that includes oncology, radiology, and pathology. Ask about the team's specific case volume for cholangiocarcinoma, availability of molecular tumour profiling, and what follow-up and surveillance protocols are in place after treatment.
What documents do international patients need to share for a medical evaluation?
Share a concise medical summary, symptom timeline, previous diagnoses, investigation and imaging reports, procedure or biopsy reports where relevant, current medicines, allergies and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translations when needed. The reviewing doctor may request additional information before giving an opinion.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team can review the initial information, help identify suitable doctors and hospitals, request a medical opinion where available, explain next steps and indicative cost information, and support practical planning before travel. A remote opinion does not replace an in-person examination or emergency care.
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