GEM Hospital Multi-organ transplant team has performed a Living Donor Liver transplant in a 7 month old child from Salem last week which was suffering from a rare genetic liver disease Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC).
This is the youngest child to undergo liver transplantation in South Tamil Nadu which was done completely free under Chief Minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme. Liver transplant was the only lifesaving option to the boy. Its mother volunteered to donate a part of her liver.
Dr. Swaminathan, Liver Transplant Surgeon at GEM hospital, mentioned “Liver Transplant in children only few months old is technically challenging. The child’s blood vessels and bile duct was only 1 to 2 mm. They required meticulous micro-surgical techniques. Postoperative care required a huge team work. We are glad that the child recovered within a week…”
Dr.Anand, Liver Transplant Surgeon at GEM Hospital added that “About 200 gms of liver was taken from the child’s mom by Laparoscopic assisted method. She recovered in a couple of days and took care of the child”. Mother got discharged on second day. Boy with liver transplant recovered completely and discharged on seventh day from the hospital.