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Organ transplant
Patient Information
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UK Hospital Performs Liver Transplant on Youngest Patient
LEXINGTON, KY (March 20, 2001) – A University of Kentucky Hospital surgical team has performed a liver transplant on a 9-year-old Central Kentucky girl, the youngest patient ever to receive a liver transplant at UK by this program.
The eight-hour surgery was performed March 15 on Elizabeth Henderson, who has alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD). She was listed with the United Network for Organ Sharing on Feb. 3, 2000.
Dinesh Ranjan, M.D., director of UK’s liver and pancreas transplant program, led the surgical team that consisted of Thomas Johnston, M.D., director of UK’s pediatric and renal transplant program; K. Sudhakar Reddy, M.D., a liver transplant surgeon and an assistant professor of surgery; two anesthesiologists; and three nurses and/or operating room technicians. The surgery began around noon on Thursday, March 15, and ended at 8 p.m. on Thursday. The transplanted organ immediately began to function on the operating room table.
As is the case with all transplant patients immediately following surgery, Henderson is listed in critical condition. On Monday, she was moved from the pediatric intensive care unit to a regular room in the UK Childrens’ Hospital.
“This is the second pediatric liver transplant we have performed, and it is quite a milestone for our liver transplant program,” Ranjan said. UK’s first pediatric liver transplant was performed on May 18, 1998, on a 13-year-old girl, who continues to do well.
A1ATD is a hereditary defect in body chemistry that fewer than 100,000 Americans have. Alpha1-antitrypsin, also called alpha1 proteinase inhibitor, is a protein that circulates in the blood. The liver produces most of the alpha1-antitrypsin in the blood. It protects the tissues of the body from being damaged by chemicals contained in white blood cells.
White blood cells contain enzymes, or proteinases, that help them move through tissues, clean up wounds, and perform other important functions. The activities of these chemicals must be strictly controlled to keep them from attacking normal tissues in the body. Alpha1-antitrypsin normally provides one type of protection against the chemicals.
A1ATD, the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children, occurs when the amount of alpha1-antitrypsin in the blood is very low. That causes lung problems because of the lack of alpha1-antitrypsin means the tiny air sacs in the lungs aren’t protected from the chemicals released by white blood cells. It also causes liver problems because alpha1-antitrypsin is made in the liver, but such problems typically are mild. Little is known about why some people with A1ATD become ill, while others remain healthy.
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