Chennai hospital performs liver transplant on two-year-old with rare genetic disorder

A two-year-old boy with primary hyperoxaluria, a rare genetic disorder, has successfully undergone a live donor mono-segment liver transplant at MGM Healthcare Malar in Chennai.

The child, weighing nine kilograms, was admitted with severe vomiting and poor growth. He was diagnosed with advanced kidney failure caused by excessive oxalate accumulation due to a liver enzyme deficiency. While a kidney transplant was needed, doctors said correcting the liver defect first was essential to ensure proper kidney function.

The boy’s grandmother donated a portion of her liver. The multi-visceral transplant team, led by Anil Vaidya, chair and director, Institute of Multi-Visceral and Abdominal Organ Transplant, performed the procedure successfully. Anaesthesia was managed by Dinesh Babu, senior consultant, Anaesthesiology, while pre- and post-surgical kidney care was overseen by Srinivasa Prasad, senior consultant, Nephrology.

Following surgery, the child’s kidney function improved, and he no longer requires dialysis. He will have a kidney transplant at a later stage.

“Operating on such a young, underweight child is complex, but urgent intervention was needed. Treating the liver first ensures proper kidney function,” said Dr. Vaidya. Venugopal Bhat, chief operating officer, added, “This case shows that children with complex metabolic and kidney disorders can be successfully treated through coordinated care.”