In Malaysia, livers for transplant are commonly harvested from cadavers. It is the dawning of a new milestone when University of Malaya successfully establishes a living liver donor transplant unit.
A multispecialty team of healthcare professionals in University of Malaya (UM) has successfully carried out their first living donor liver transplantation last year and since then performed three living donor liver transplants over the past year.
According to Associate Professor Yoong Boon Koon, of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UM, the liver transplant unit in UM is composed of members from many fields, with every member being passionate and dedicated to the cause.
“As you can see, we have a team of surgeons, anaesthesiologist, hepatologists, intensivists, pathologists, psychiatrist, nurses and more.” Yoong, a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon, was speaking at a multidisciplinary meeting involving members of the newly established liver transplant unit in University Malaya Medical Centre. He said: “We just did our third case 6 weeks ago and she is doing well. We are looking at six this year and further upscaling the number to 12 next year.” The team has no doubts as to the uptake of the service—the only question is how many the infrastructure can support.
While the adult living donor liver transplant unit is relatively new, Yoong said it was important to note that a paediatric living donor transplant unit has been in existence for much longer. It is hoped that, with the availability of an adult living donor liver transplant programme in place, the number of end-stage liver disease patients who can be treated will increase exponentially.
According to Yoong, the living donor transplant effort is meant to bring more awareness to the public and to healthcare professionals about the importance of organ donation. Unlike cadaveric donor transplantation, in living donor transplantation, two persons must undergo surgery and this means risking a healthy donor.
Esta historia es de la edición July 2018 de Health Today Malaysia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 2018 de Health Today Malaysia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
When Depression Strikes Teenagers
It can be difficult to imagine that those in the carefree days of youth can be hit by such a somber illness. However, the numbers don’t lie: a significant number of young people suffer from depression and this figure is on the rise. Our contributing psychiatrist reveals the facts about teenage depression and how to spot the signs.
5 Things You Should Know About Probiotics
If you haven’t heard of probiotics or have been wondering what they are, here are some basics on the topic to get you started.
Internet Safety For Children
There’s nothing more comforting than to have your chicks safely back in the roost as they unwind on their gadgets in the solace of their rooms. But are they truly alone in their rooms and are they truly safe? Online gadgets are windows to another world, and no one is looking out for your child there. So how do we shield them from the unwarranted possibilities that lie in that realm?
A Cuppa Joe, Anyone?
Coffee, one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world, is derived from the beans of Coffea canephora (best known as robusta) and C. arabica. Coffee is unique in terms of its perceived and actual effects on the body and is also loved for its distinct aroma and taste. Our general perception about coffee is that it can keep us awake. However, its benefits go beyond the “wake-me-up” action and it can be categorized as a health drink.
Emilia Clarke - Conquers Real-life Adversities
Her on-screen character, Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones was meant to be a blend of Napoleon, Joan of Arc and Lawrence of Arabia—courageous heroes of the past. But when illness struck actress Emilia Clarke, she had to channel some of that strength and bravery into her real-life situation.
The Fertility Revolution
A pioneer in Malaysia's fertility treatment offers his insight on two revolutionaryadvances that made a big difference in bringing hope to many couples who are unable to conceive naturally.
6 Skin Myths Debunked
A pimple has erupted on your nose (oh, horrors). Family members and friends are quick to give you well-meaning advice, while the internet abounds with ‘effective’ tips and solutions. But how do you know if any of that information is true?
Addiction: What You Don't Know
Addictive behaviours have been described as one of the greatest scourages of humankind. In order to treat it, we have to first understand what courses it.
Hello, Hunky Hemsworth!
With the third Thor movie, Thor: Ragnarok set to open in just a few weeks, we turn our attention to the big, blond, easy-on-the eyes star – Chris Hemsworth.
Battling Two Cancers
Being diagnosed with liver cancer was bad enough, but as he was fighting for recovery, Mohd Salleh Yusof was struck by lung cancer as well. Determined to enjoy life to the fullest, Salleh shares his experience with HealthToday.
