15-yr-old undergoes simultaneous liver, kidney transplant

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) In probably the world's first ever surgery of its kind, a 15-year-old boy, suffering from crippling advanced kidney failure, has undergone successful simultaneous liver and kidney transplant here from two live donors.

Ganesh Nehru, who without the surgery did not have the chance to survive beyond three to five years because of Primary Hyperoxaluria or advanced kidney failure, got a new lease of life after the 18-hour path breaking surgery at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on April 17.

Today, the boy, a ninth standard student in California who aspires to be an engineer, has full life expectancy and can lead a normal life.

He is ready to be discharged from the hopsital three weeks after the surgery which cost about Rs 19 lakh.

Ask Ganesh how he is feeling and pat comes the reply ''great''.

And he wants to resume school and his favourite sport Baseball at the earliest.

''I feel great and want to get back to school as soon as possible,'' said an unfazed Ganesh, who was swamped by scores of shutter bugs at a meet the press event at the hospital.

Transplant surgeon Dr A S Soin led a team of 50 doctors and paramedics, from 14 departments of the hospital, to perform the operation after the child's mother, Hemlata, decided to donate her kidney and his maternal uncle, Mohan Ram, a half of his liver.

''It was huge challenge for all us as it was a very complicated surgery...The operation had to be timed like clockwork since it involved operating on three people simultaneously in three different operation theatres,'' said Dr Soin.

''Ganesh will lead a normal life but he will have to use immune suppressants and the both transplants are expected to last him a life time,'' he pointed out.

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