Rajavithi Hospital has become the first state-run hospital to successfully perform a simultaneous liver-kidney transplant on a patient, the Department of Medical Services (DMS) says.
The 54-year-old female patient, who registered for the transplant waiting list in September 2023, underwent a 12-hour kidney and liver transplant on Jan 5.
The newly transplanted organs are functioning normally, said Dr Vorapot Choonhaklai, chairman of Rajavithi Hospital's Excellence Centre for organ transplantation.
The success was attributed to the strong cooperation between various departments and agencies including gastrointestinal surgeons and nephrology doctors, Rajavithi Hospital's organ donation centre and the National Blood Centre of Thai Red Cross Society. But most significant of all were the people who donated their organs, said Dr Vorapot.
Organ transplantation is the last resort to save the lives of patients who suffer organ failure, particularly heart, lung and liver failure, said DMS deputy director-general Dr Nattapong Wongwiwat.
And for patients in the final stage of a chronic kidney disease, a transplant would allow them to regain a normal level of well-being and with lower chances of developing an intercurrent illness, which can be fatal, he said.
Rajavithi Hospital has been performing organ transplants since 1988.
