Gurugram/New Delhi: Strengthening its legacy of pioneering ‘medical firsts’, Medanta’s Liver Transplant team successfully conducted the country’s first pediatric dual lobe liver transplant on a 14-year-old patient. Akshat became India’s first child to undergo this rare surgery successfully where his two sisters, Prerna and Neha donated one half of their livers to save their brother’s life.
The patient was fighting for his life just over a month ago, terminally ill with liver failure resulting in deep jaundice. He was in a pre-coma state. The case was made even more complex since the patient was overweight, weighing around 92 kg. While two of his sisters were eligible donors, they were both much lighter. Therefore, he required half a liver from both his sisters. To fit in both halves whilst keeping him from sinking through the long surgical procedure was challenging. Akshat, and his sisters had an excellent recovery after the surgery and are now enjoying normal lives a month later.
Dr Arvinder Soin, Chairman, Medanta Liver Transplant Institute and Chief Surgeon in the case said, ‘’The decision to embark on a first-of-its kind surgery for a critically ill child by putting all three siblings on the operating table together was a very tough one not just for the team but also for the parents. For a successful transplant, it is essential that the newly transplanted liver weighs at least 0.8 to 1% of the patient’s body weight. In this case, a single donor liver half weighed only 0.5 to 0.55% of Akshat’s weight. Hence two liver halves were needed to make up the required liver volume. We are delighted it all worked out well.’’
Dr Neelam Mohan, Director, Pediatric Liver Diseases and Transplantation, Medanta said,
‘’While the patient’s sisters were eligible donors, the situation required both of them to donate portions of their livers. While the initial period of recovery in ICU was complex for the patient, eventually all the three siblings recovered well.”
Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta, said “This is a unique example of the power of organ donation to save lives. It draws attention to the fact that any healthy person can save a loved one’s life by donating half their liver or a single kidney without suffering any harm.’’
