In a rare and life-saving medical feat, doctors at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi have successfully performed a liver transplant on two twin brothers from the Philippines. The 23-month-old patients, Tyler and Kelly, were given a new lease on life through this procedure, which is being hailed as a historic milestone for the institution. Out of the 645 pediatric liver transplants performed at this hospital to date, this is the first instance involving twins.
A Grueling Journey with Congenital Disease
The twins were born prematurely, weighing only 2 kg and 2.4 kg at birth. The parents had already lost one child previously, adding immense emotional weight to the critical condition of these boys. Barely two weeks after birth, both infants developed jaundice and passed abnormally pale-colored stools. Diagnostic tests confirmed they were suffering from a congenital biliary disorder known as Choledochal Cyst Type 4A.
This condition causes the bile duct to enlarge excessively, leading to severe and irreversible liver damage if left untreated. Unfortunately, the disorder progressed until both children experienced total liver failure. They suffered from repeated gastrointestinal bleeding and the accumulation of fluid in their abdomen. Their development was severely stunted, and they required frequent hospitalizations. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals in Southeast Asia, the condition continued to deteriorate, leaving a liver transplant as the only viable option for survival.
Surgical Challenges and Donor Coordination
The medical team, spearheaded by Dr. Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, alongside Dr. Neerav Goyal, Senior Consultant and Head of Liver Transplant Surgery, undertook the operation. Dr. Goyal noted that the surgical process spanned 10 to 12 hours. A major hurdle was securing suitable living donors for both brothers simultaneously. Because the father was not medically fit to donate his organ, the children's mother and uncle stepped forward, each donating 20% to 25% of their liver. Tyler’s transplant surgery lasted over 15 hours, while Kelly’s procedure exceeded 13 hours, both requiring complex surgical reconstruction.
Successful Recovery and Medical Insight
Following the surgery, both boys have shown excellent recovery progress, with their new livers functioning normally. Shivakumar Pattabhiraman, Managing Director of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, stated that every transplant is driven by the hope of a family, and they are grateful for the trust the Filipino family placed in them after being referred from their home country. While unable to communicate in Hindi or English, the parents expressed deep gratitude in their native language for the treatment they could not obtain back home. The total expenditure for this entire liver transplant procedure amounted to ₹2500000. Dr. Anupam Sibal highlighted the importance of maternal health during pregnancy, noting that such congenital conditions underscore the necessity of a healthy lifestyle and diet, as the mother’s well-being is intrinsically linked to the fetal development.
