Liver transplants on three children performed at SIUT

Karachi
A team of surgeons from the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) and the Shiraz Transplant Centre, Iran have successfully carried out liver transplants on thee children between the ages of 5 and 10 years last week.
The transplants were carried out at the SIUT and the children are in good health and recovering fast, an official of the health centre said on Saturday.
The recipients, Muhammad Bilal, 7, Ahsan Aslam, 10, and Ahsan Ali Haider, 5, are now out of the intensive care unit and making good progress, the official said. The donors are also in good health and doing very well.
Mohammad Bilal received a piece of liver from his father, Mohammad Iqbal, 40.. Ahsan Aslam, a resident of Usmanabad, received a piece of the organ from his mother, Kishwar Aslam, 35.
Ahsan Ali Haider, who also lives in Usmanabad, was received a piece of liver from his mother, Nazia Ali Haider.
These patients have received care under the traditional SIUT model where all treatment is provided free of charge, the SIUT official said.
“The entire surgical procedure and post-operation care caused no economic hardship on the three families.”
The successful surgical procedure was performed by a team of SIUT surgeons along with a visiting team from the Shiraz Organ Transplant Centre which is one of the largest of its kind in the region.
Dr Malek Al Husaini, who led the Iranian team, is the head of the Shiraz Transplant Centre and an immediate past president of the Middle East Society of Organ Transplantation.
SIUT surgeons and experts have been frequently visiting Iran, Turkey and other countries to acquire hands on training in surgical procedures, kidney transplants and now liver and there are plans to perform heart transplants at the centre in the near future.
“A 13-storied transplant tower is in the final stages of completion at the SIUT where transplants of liver, heart, kidney and cornea will be conducted on a regular basis”, the official said.