Ten-month-old baby recovers from liver transplant

A 10-month-old Chinese boy is recovering from a liver transplant last month and is expected to be discharged from a Shanghai hospital soon, doctors said on Wednesday.

Liu Mingrui had progressed well, overcoming acute rejection and other difficulties since the transplant was carried out on Oct. 21, said a doctor with the transplant center of the Shanghai Renji Hospital.

Doctors spent 13 hours in surgery to transplant one-sixth of the liver of Liu's mother into his body. Liu was said to be the youngest person to have received a liver transplant in China.

The organ was functioning well, said the doctor.

Liu, from central China's Henan Province, became jaundiced started losing weight when he was three months old.

He was diagnosed with congenital atresia of the biliary duct and underwent surgery in a local hospital to no avail.

Liu's father and mother feared for his survival after the failed operation, Liu's mother was quoted as saying by doctors.

On hearing that only a liver transplant could save his life, the couple came to Renji Hospital in Shanghai.

Doctors carried out a thorough examination and conducted the surgery on Oct. 21. Liu's mother recovered and was discharged a week later.

A liver transplant for a baby was more difficult than for an adult, doctors said, citing the challenges of reconstructing the infant's vessels to match that of the transplanted adult liver, and high incidence of complications.

Due to a baby's low weight and underdeveloped nervous system, the quality of anaesthetic and post-operation care were critical, doctors said.

Source: Xinhua