In Lviv, doctors grew part of liver in body of 10-month-old boy

This was reported by the First Medical Association of Lviv on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

It is noted that a malignant tumor was detected in Demianchik at four months of age. The baby then lost his appetite, stopped gaining weight, and his skin turned pale. The family was referred to the Center for Cholestatic Diseases in Children.

A biopsy confirmed that the boy had a malignant liver tumor, which occupied 8 centimeters of the 12-centimeter organ and had spread to all four sectors of the liver. The boy was classified as a high-risk patient.

Doctors immediately began chemotherapy, and after four months of treatment, the tumor was reduced by half. However, the threat to his life remained. It is specified that the option of a liver transplant was ruled out because Demianchik weighed only 8 kg.

“Another option is a very complex ALPPS operation, which our doctors have never performed before. The method is new, and only a few such procedures are performed on children worldwide each year. ALPPS involves radical resection, i.e., almost complete removal of the liver. After consulting with their Polish colleagues, the Lviv pediatric surgeons decided to try the new method. After all, it was the only way to fight for Demianchik’s life,” the medical association noted.

They explained that during the first stage, surgeons divided the liver into healthy and affected parts. The vessels supplying the diseased area were clamped to stop the tumor from growing, but the organ continued to function.

“15% of the separated healthy liver tissue grew fourfold within a week after the intervention! This means that the doctors managed to grow enough tissue for the next stage of the operation from a critically small volume. Such cases are rare even worldwide. So now the surgeons could proceed with the removal of the part of the organ affected by the neoplasm,” the doctors emphasized.

There was a second stage when it was necessary to replace a vessel in half an hour.

The medical association reported that Demianchik continues to receive chemotherapy, but the results of regular examinations are encouraging: the liver has regenerated to its full size and is functioning without problems. The baby finally regained his appetite and began to gain weight.

As reported, doctors in Lviv had to perform two heart transplants in a row within 52 hours on 20-year-old Vitalii Dats from Yavoriv after his own organ failed and the first donor organ was rejected.