Indian Doctors Connect Heart & Liver to Save 21-Year-Old Suffering From a Rare Genetic Disease
Bnar Satar Mala, an Iraniani national, had given up all hopes of surviving Budd-Chiari syndrome. Till she met a team of specialists at Fortis Medical Research Institute.
A team of doctors in Gurugram has implemented a novel surgery technique to save the life of a 21-year-old patient suffering from a rare disease known as Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Doctors at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, connected the patient’s heart and liver in a complex transplant.
Image for representation. Source: Pixabay
When 21-year-old Bnar Satar Mala arrived in India late last year, she has given up on life. The Iranian national had been suffering since 2014, afflicted by discolouration, severe pain in her arms, and swelling in her limbs and abdomen. “I would feel nauseous at the mention of food, I could barely eat and often throw up soon after,” she said, according to an FMRI report.
Budd-Chiari syndrome leads to blood clots, obstructing the blood flow to the liver. Only a handful of cases have been reported around the world, and the disorder is believed to affect only one in a million.
You might also like: For the First Time in India & Only Second Time in the World, an Organ Recipient Also Donated an Organ!
The FMRI team of surgeons was led by Dr. Vivek Vij, Director, Liver Transplant, who conducted the surgery towards the end of 2016.
Dr Vivek said about the operation, “Her (Bnar) IVC was completely blocked and she required a lot of blood transfusion during the surgery. The affected liver was removed and a part of the liver was taken from her brother and transplanted in the patient. In this case, the challenge was to suture the liver “directly” to the heart as the patient’s native IVC was completely blocked. In order to suture the liver as close to the heart as possible, the heart had to be pulled down into the abdominal cavity. We decided not to open the recipient’s chest and instead pulled the heart down through a narrow gap made in the diaphragm separating the chest and the abdomen.”
The surgery reduced the risk of infection and also avoided leaving any major scarring on Bar’s chest area. The case marks another milestone for liver transplantation, which according to FMRI is “currently in its golden period in India.”
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
Similar Story
Would Your Parents Support You Taking Therapy? This Mental Wellbeing Survey Reveals an Unseen Change
An ITC Fiama survey on mental health shows 80% of Indians trust their parents to back them in seeking therapy, signalling a change in how its perceived by Gen Z, millennials, and their parents.
Read more >
If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.
Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-
By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let's ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.
Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?
This story made me
-
97 -
121 -
89 -
167
Home
Read
Watch
Contribute
