Italy performed its first combined living donor transplant in history. A 37-year-old father simultaneously donated a kidney and part of his liver to his seven-year-old daughter, who suffered from a rare genetic disease.
The operation took place at Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital. in BergamoThe intervention lasted 18 hours.
The child suffered from a condition affecting the liver and kidneys. She had been undergoing peritoneal dialysis since the age of four, in sessions that lasted between 13 and 18 hours.
The family is originally from Serbia, and the case reached Italy through a request for assistance from that country's Ministry of Health. The process involved a multidisciplinary team and rigorous legal and clinical approval stages.
“My wife and I prayed to God to help us, and He heard us. The doctors at the Bergamo hospital performed the greatest and most responsible task,” said the donor father after his wife's discharge from the hospital. according to Avvenire.
The donor explained that the decision was made more than two years ago. “We simply did what any parent would do. We had made the decision to donate to our daughter when the doctors told us it was time to start dialysis,” he stated.
The surgery involved 6 surgeons, 7 anesthesiologists, and 20 nursing professionals in two operating rooms. The technique used allowed for the removal of only 25% of the father's liver for the transplant.
According to the director of the National Transplant Center, Giuseppe Feltrin, "the success confirms the excellence of the Italian system." The country is recognized for its international health cooperation based on equity and quality.
The girl will remain in Bergamo for the next few months for medical follow-up, but is already showing signs of improvement in her mood and appetite.
"It's a joy to see today that our daughter has regained her appetite and desire to play. Now she's becoming like all the other children: lively, cheerful, full of energy," the father celebrated.
