A team of surgeons at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona has achieved save the lives of two girls who needed a liver transplant, thanks to the liver of a compatible pediatric donor.
This type of intervention so complex and infrequent is called the "split" liver transplant technique, and consists of the division of the donor liver into two fully functional parts. Now, thanks to the generosity of the donor's family and the prowess of the medical team, Naora and Rome have smiled again.
The two girls needed an urgent transplant
Rome, eight months, and Naora, 13 years urgently needed a liver transplant. The baby suffered from a rare liver disease that had caused irreversible liver cirrhosis, while Naora fought against liver cancer and metabolic disease, which forced her to follow a very restrictive protein diet.
The donor's liver was compatible with the two girls, so the doctors decided to carry out a technique called "split", which consists of dividing it into two functional parts to be able to be transplanted to both."Split liver transplantation is a very complex surgical procedure and reserved for exceptional cases that require a high level of experience "- Dr. Ramón Charco, head of the hepatobiliopancreatic surgery and transplants department at Vall d'Hebron hospital in Barcelona, explained to EFE Salud.
The complex intervention was carried out last July and about thirty professionals participated, who implanted the largest piece of liver to Naora, and the smallest to Rome. Even so, and as Dr. Charco explained, "the small part of the liver was still too big for your body", so Rome has had to spend a few days with the wound open.
Doctors celebrate the recovery of girls and hope that little by little they can make a normal life: "We talk a lot about the success of the transplant, about survival, but the success of the transplant is that the children are simply children", expressed Jesus Quintero, deputy doctor of the Unit of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutritional Support and Pediatric Liver Transplants.
For now, Naora, who was discharged a week after the intervention, has already begun to eat meat and sausages, something he could not do before the transplant. The evolution of Rome is slowing down, given the extra complexity of its weight and age, but doctors hope that it can soon go home.
The donor, a true hero
Before this type of news in which we all highlight the feat of health professionalsWe must not forget the other heroes: the donors or relatives who, in the midst of pain for the loss of a loved one, decide to donate the organs to save other lives.
Organ donation is one of the greatest examples of generosity there may be, especially when we talk about babies or children, as in this case. Therefore, it is important to become aware and become a donor.
Every year between 120 and 140 organ transplants to children are performed in Spain, and according to Dr. Quintero, there are currently ten children on the waiting list for a liver transplant.
Naroa's mother has encouraged all parents of children who are waiting for a compatible organ, and urged them not to lose hope, because "someday they will receive that call". Hopefully so and we can continue to share more news like this.
IStock photos
Via EFE Salud
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