Dubai, An Indian-origin doctor performed a ground-breaking medical procedure on a four-year-old Indian girl, the first pediatric liver transplant in the UAE.
This was also the first living donor pediatric liver transplant in the country. The historic surgery was performed by a team of doctors led by Dr Rehan Saif at Burjeel Medical City (BMC).
The patient, Abu Dhabi-born Razia Khan, was diagnosed with a rare genetic liver disease called progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC).
Razia's family was very familiar with the devastating effects of PFIC, as she lost her first daughter to the same condition three years ago in India.
Razia was given medication and recommended routine check-ups until she was old enough for a liver transplant. In recent years, Razia's condition prevented her from attending daycare and reaching age-appropriate growth milestones.
“Having lost a daughter to the same condition, every day was filled with fear. He wasn't sure what would happen. Every day I was afraid of losing her,” said Razia's father, Imran Khan, who is from India, has lived in the United Arab Emirates for 14 years and works as a business coordinator.
Three months ago, a routine checkup revealed that Razia's spleen and liver had enlarged. Doctors recommended it was time to consider a transplant.
“Razia's condition is due to a genetic mutation, which leads to an abnormality in the formation and secretion of bile components and bile acids, ultimately causing damage to the liver. It presents in infancy and early childhood as signs of growth retardation and complications of liver failure,” said Dr Saif, Director of Transplant Surgery, Burjeel Abdominal Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Clinical Lead for HPB Surgery and Consultant. of general surgery.
Dr. Saif has his roots in Bengaluru. He emigrated to the UK and now has a British passport. According to him, the only definitive and curative treatment for these children is liver transplant.
After extensive evaluations, doctors recommended that a liver transplant was necessary to save Razia's life and her father volunteered to be a donor.
The BMC transplant team, led by Dr. Saif, successfully performed simultaneous donor and recipient surgeries, which lasted 10 hours.
“This is a monumental achievement for the UAE medical community. It ensures that children like Razia can receive life-saving treatments without having to travel abroad. We are proud to have reached this milestone and look forward to helping more families in the future,” said Dr. Saif.
Razia has made an excellent recovery from the life-saving liver transplant and will be monitored regularly. Her physical and intellectual development will return to normal with a better quality of life. She will be able to start school and enjoy her childhood like any other child her age, he said.
This was also the first living donor pediatric liver transplant in the country. The historic surgery was performed by a team of doctors led by Dr Rehan Saif at Burjeel Medical City (BMC).
The patient, Abu Dhabi-born Razia Khan, was diagnosed with a rare genetic liver disease called progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC).
Razia's family was very familiar with the devastating effects of PFIC, as she lost her first daughter to the same condition three years ago in India.
Razia was given medication and recommended routine check-ups until she was old enough for a liver transplant. In recent years, Razia's condition prevented her from attending daycare and reaching age-appropriate growth milestones.
“Having lost a daughter to the same condition, every day was filled with fear. He wasn't sure what would happen. Every day I was afraid of losing her,” said Razia's father, Imran Khan, who is from India, has lived in the United Arab Emirates for 14 years and works as a business coordinator.
Three months ago, a routine checkup revealed that Razia's spleen and liver had enlarged. Doctors recommended it was time to consider a transplant.
“Razia's condition is due to a genetic mutation, which leads to an abnormality in the formation and secretion of bile components and bile acids, ultimately causing damage to the liver. It presents in infancy and early childhood as signs of growth retardation and complications of liver failure,” said Dr Saif, Director of Transplant Surgery, Burjeel Abdominal Multi Organ Transplant Programme, Clinical Lead for HPB Surgery and Consultant. of general surgery.
Dr. Saif has his roots in Bengaluru. He emigrated to the UK and now has a British passport. According to him, the only definitive and curative treatment for these children is liver transplant.
After extensive evaluations, doctors recommended that a liver transplant was necessary to save Razia's life and her father volunteered to be a donor.
The BMC transplant team, led by Dr. Saif, successfully performed simultaneous donor and recipient surgeries, which lasted 10 hours.
“This is a monumental achievement for the UAE medical community. It ensures that children like Razia can receive life-saving treatments without having to travel abroad. We are proud to have reached this milestone and look forward to helping more families in the future,” said Dr. Saif.
Razia has made an excellent recovery from the life-saving liver transplant and will be monitored regularly. Her physical and intellectual development will return to normal with a better quality of life. She will be able to start school and enjoy her childhood like any other child her age, he said.
