India’s first successful pediatric liver transplant in a physically challenged child…

India’s  first successful pediatric liver transplant in a physically challenged child...
New Delhi
India’s  first successful pediatric liver transplant in a physically challenged child
Does life give second chances!  And when death stares in the face against all odds, can the strength of human will and Gods grace change it all?
This did happen recently for a physically challenged infant girl who had a life threatening liver disease resulting in brain hemorrhage and weakness on the left side of her body.
This is the story of a first born child to a Delhi couple. She suffered brain hemorrhage and seizures at the young age of 3 months and was then diagnosed to have a fatal condition known as biliary atresia. While the liver function was steadily going downhill, she was suffering from the inability to move her left hand and leg owing to a life threatening bleed in her brain.
She was brought at the age of four months to Ganga Ram hospital. It became certain that her brain was affected secondary to the complications of liver disease. The progressive liver failure which was going on meant that death was certain for this child and only a liver transplant could save the life of this child. According to Dr Nishant Wadhwa, Pediatric Hepatologist and Liver transplant physician, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital “This was one of the most challenging cases seen by me over the last 10 years. The liver transplant could have saved the life of the child but there was a high possibility that the physical disability might have persisted even after a successful liver transplant. On top of it, the liver transplant team lead by Dr Naimish Mehta and team of anesthetists led by Dr Shashank Pandey faced a challange of administering anesthesia for a fifteen hour long surgery and also ensuring that there was minimal adverse affect on the already compromised brain blood supply”.
While the parents knew that a liver transplant would be life saving for their child they also knew that her physical disability may benefit little from the procedure. Since liver transplant has not yet been reported in this special circumstance anywhere in India , Dr Nishant Wadhwa and Dr R.K.Sabharwal , Pediatric Neurologist , counseled the parents regarding the same.  Inspite of all odds, the parents took a decision to get a liver transplant for their daughter. The mother donated a part of her liver to her child.
The team of doctors led by Dr Nishant Wadhwa, the Pediatric Hepatologist and Dr Naimish Mehta, the Transplant Surgeon performed the first successful
Pediatric liver transplant on a physically challenged child in India on 7th March 2014.
It took a fifteen-hour marathon surgery in which a part of the liver of her mother was transplanted into her. During the surgery stitching of the minute vessels was a cumbersome process and  it was essential that the child was removed from the ventilator support as soon as possible for a speedy recovery for the brain.
Both the mother and the child were discharged from the hospital after fifteen days.
Now three months after successful liver transplant the child who was constantly bed ridden not only sits without support but can also walk with support. It is expected that with passage of time she will be a normal healthy growing child.
All this would not have been achieved but for the strength ,  courage and strong will of the parents, who stood by her daughter during this life threatening crucial first year of her life.
Today , the parents along with their daughter came to Sir Ganga ram Hospital to thank the team of doctors and to celebrate her first birthday.  On this occasion Dr. D.S Rana , Chairman (Board of Management) , Sir Ganga Ram Hospital , gifted toys to the first physically challenged pediatric liver transplant recipient in India. He said “We are proud of our team of doctors who have been providing one of the best results in liver transplantation compatible with the best centers in the world. I wish the child and her family a prosperous future ahead. ”

Author: sarkarimirror