5-Month-Old Baby Undergoes Monosegmental Liver Transplant at MGM Healthcare

Chennai: MGM Healthcare successfully performed a reduced monosegmental living donor liver transplant on a 5-month-old, 8 kg infant from Krishnagiri who was suffering from severe jaundice due to Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1- a rare genetic condition affecting the function of the liver. After the 10-hour-long surgery, the young patient recovered well and was discharged in 14 days.

Crigler–Najjar syndrome affects only one in a million newborns, in which the liver is unable to break down bilirubin, a substance produced from the breakdown of red blood cells.

Without a liver transplant, affected children face a very high risk of permanent neurological damage, kernicterus, liver cirrhosis and liver failure. Standard management with phototherapy often fails to control bilirubin levels, preventing the patient from sustaining a long-term improvement. Hence transplant is the only definitive solution.

In this case, the surgery involved the reduction of the infant’s liver size to ensure a perfect fit for the small body. The child needs to follow up lifelong and must take tailored immunosuppressant medications to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ.

The surgery was headed by Dr. Thiagarajan Srinivasan, Senior Consultant & Director and comprised of Dr. Srikanth Thummala and Dr. L. Soundara Rajan, consultants- Institute of Liver Diseases, Transplant & HPB Surgery. The anaesthesia and intensive care team comprised Dr. Dinesh Babu and Dr. Nivash Chandrasekaran.

Speaking about the complexity of the surgery, Dr. Thiagarajan Srinivasan said, “To carry out a living-donor liver transplant in an infant who could receive only 150-180g of liver posed a big challenge. Meticulous 3D planning enabled the stimulation of a reduced monosegment graft while preserving the essential blood vessel and bile duct structures. During surgery, the graft was safely trimmed under cold perfusion to just the precise size required. The surgery was completed successfully with careful reconstruction of the arterial supply and very minimal blood loss.”

He further added, “At MGM Healthcare, our utmost priority has been the well-being of our patients. And in this case, we take the privilege to give a young life a second chance. The success of this surgery is attributed to the skill and commitment of our entire medical team and the generosity of the donor.”

This landmark achievement at MGM Healthcare highlights the hospital’s commitment to ensuring the highest quality medical care is provided.

Dr. Srinivasan and his team’s expertise in such difficult surgeries and transplants will continue to make a remarkable impact on the lives of patient and their families.