By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is examining the possibility of introducing a ‘living related programme’ for liver donations and transplants as 14 patients in need of transplants are waiting to receive livers from cadaveric donors.
A liver transplant programme was introduced in 2011 and only three transplants have been carried out in the past two years.
“Because of a small number of transplants, we are thinking of introducing living related programme. We have already started steps to see its effectiveness,” said Dr Yousuf Al Maslamani, chief of medical staff at the Hamad General Hospital.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a Pan-Arab Liver Transplant Society Congress, which started yesterday at the Ritz-Charlton Doha.
“Introducing a ‘living related programme’ is also challenging. HMC initially needs a feasibility study and requires specialised people in particular as part of the operation. They either need to bring specialists or train their staff abroad. This might take a year,” says Dr Al Maslamani.
Having a living donor is more difficult than a cadaveric one because part of the liver will be taken from a living donor.
“Usually we take organs from dead people. Now we are taking from someone alive, so we are creating a patient, who is not sick… but we are making him a patient by taking part of his liver,” said Dr Al Maslamani.
Once the progamme is launched, it is expected that there will be more donors such as mothers, who are willing to donate livers for their children,” he added.
The two-dayFifth Pan-Arab Liver Transplant Society Congress, hosted by HMC, has brought together experts and leading figures in the liver transplant community to examine advances in the field, share knowledge and experience and work to provide best possible treatment and care for patients.
“This congress is an important opportunity for Arab countries and the international community to share best practice and developments in the field of liver transplants.
“These exchanges are vital if we are to continue to introduce changes that truly benefit patients,” Dr Al Maslamani said in his opening remarks at the congress on behalf of Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director, HMC.
Yesterday’s discussions included topics such as Early Lessons in Liver Transplants, Liver Transplants in the Arab world and Achieving Best Outcomes.
The Peninsula
