The first domino liver transplant in Japan is also reportedly the first domino liver transplant ever to involve four patients.
Since the first domino liver transplant was conducted four years ago, such transplants have until now only involved three patients. However, in a series of operations that began on July 9 at Kyoto University Hospital, a man in his 60s donated part of his liver to his younger brother, who had familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The recipient's own liver was then split and given to two women who had more serious liver diseases and had life expectancies of about six months.
The women may eventually require subsequent liver transplants because their newly donated livers are less than healthy. However, doctors estimated that it could take decades before the women develop the FAP that infected the man who donated their new livers.
All four of the patients were reportedly doing well the day after surgery.
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