Mr David Nasralla
BMBCh, MA (Oxon), FRCS, DPhil
Consultant HPB and Liver Transplant Surgeon
Mr David Nasralla is a Consultant Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) and Liver Transplant Surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital, London, one of the UK’s leading centres for liver and pancreas surgery. He also previously served as Clinical Lead for the HPB and liver transplant service, with responsibility for delivering and developing complex hepatobiliary care within a high-volume tertiary referral centre.
He has extensive experience in the surgical management of a broad spectrum of HPB conditions, including both benign and malignant disease of the liver, pancreas, biliary tree and gallbladder. His cancer practice includes liver tumours (primary and metastatic), pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer and neuroendocrine tumours, working within a multidisciplinary setting to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care.
Beyond oncological surgery, Mr Nasralla treats benign conditions including gallstone disease, pancreatitis, abdominal wall hernias and liver cysts. He has a particular interest in the management of complicated gallstone disease, such as recurrent or difficult cholecystitis, common bile duct stones, with many patients referred for second opinions from other surgical units across the UK. He is also experienced in the assessment and surgical reconstruction of bile duct injuries, often referred following previous surgery, where careful planning and specialist expertise are essential to achieve optimal outcomes.
Mr Nasralla also has significant expertise in the management of abdominal wall hernias, including primary (inguinal, umbilical, epigastric), incisional and recurrent hernias. He manages a wide range of cases, from straightforward hernia repair to complex abdominal wall reconstruction in patients with large or multiply recurrent defects. This often includes patients with prior surgery, mesh complications or significant comorbidity, where a tailored and multidisciplinary approach is required. His practice incorporates both minimally invasive (including robotic) and open techniques, with an emphasis on restoring abdominal wall function while minimising the risk of recurrence and complications.
His operative practice encompasses both open and minimally invasive (robotic surgery) techniques, with a focus on tailoring the surgical approach to the individual patient and the complexity of the condition. He regularly undertakes major liver resections, pancreatic resections and biliary reconstruction, as well as robotic procedures where appropriate.
Mr Nasralla graduated from the University of Oxford Medical School and completed his surgical training in centres across the South of England. He subsequently undertook a DPhil (PhD) at Oxford University, where his research focused on novel techniques in liver preservation for transplantation. This work has been widely recognised, published in Nature, and has contributed to advances in organ utilisation and transplant outcomes
Alongside his clinical work, he has an active academic and research profile, with a particular interest in improving access to liver transplantation and optimising surgical pathways. He has received several national and international awards for his contributions to the field, including the Medawar Medal from the British Transplantation Society and recognition as a “Rising Star” by the International Liver Transplantation Society.
Mr Nasralla has extensive operative experience, having performed several thousand procedures across a broad range of hepatobiliary and general surgical conditions. He is also known for service innovation, having established streamlined care pathways for patients with pancreatic cancer aimed at reducing delays to definitive treatment.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a member of several professional bodies, including the British Transplantation Society and the International Liver Transplantation Society.
Leadership positions:
- NHSBT Liver ARC Lead (Sept 2025 – present)
- Fast-track Whipples Lead (Sept 2023 – present)
- Governance Lead for HPB Surgery (Sept 2019 – present)
- Clinical Lead for HPB and Liver Transplant Surgery (Aug 2024 – March 2026)
Hospital Locations
Royal Free Hospital
Languages spoken
English
Specialities
- General Surgery
- HPB surgery
- Liver Surgery
Memberships
- GMC
- Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
- Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland
- Great Britain and Ireland HPB Association
- British Transplantation Society
Registration and licensing
GMC:6128195
Procedures offered
- Abdominal wall hernia repair (inguinal, umbilical, epigastric and incisional)
- Bile duct surgery
- Distal pancreatectomy (robotic or open)
- Gallbladder cancer surgery
- Hernia repair (umbilical, inguinal, epigastric, incisional)
- Laparoscopic and open liver surgery
- Laparoscopic / robotic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
- Liver cyst fenestration (robotic, laparoscopic or open)
- Liver resection (robotic or open)
- Liver transplantation
- Lymph node resection
- Whipples procedure (including with vascular reconstruction)
- Splenectomy (keyhole and open)
- Surgical treatment for pancreatitis (Frey’s procedure, Puestow procedure, total pancreatectomy)
Clinical interests
- Abdominal wall hernias (umbilical, inguinal, epigastric, incisional) including those require abdominal wall reconstruction
- Gallstone disease
- Liver cysts
- Liver disease
- Liver transplantation
- Pancreas cancer, Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), gallbladder cancer, neuroendocrine tumours of the liver and pancreas, liver metastases
- Pancreatitis
- Retroperitoneal lymph node resection
- Splenic disease (enlarged spleen, splenic lesions and splenic cysts)