Son's gift of life to seriously ill mother
Doctors check the condition of a woman after a transplant operation which used half of her son's liver to save her life.
A woman with serious liver damage who had fallen into a coma was saved when she received a transplant from her son at Renji Hospital, the hospital said on Monday.
The 55-year-old had fallen ill last month due to taking several stomach and cold medicines. She was later diagnosed with acute drug-induced liver damage and admitted to hospital on April 5.
After hearing that a transplant was the only way to save her life, her sister, brother and son all said they would donate the liver she needed.
Doctors chose her son to be the donor and over half of his liver was used in the transplant operation.
Dr Xia Qiang, chief surgeon and director of the hospital’s liver surgery department, said ensuring the safety of both donor and recipient required close cooperation of the ICU, the anesthesiology department and operating theater.
The patient is currently recovering well.
“My mom brought me love and warmth and life. I couldn’t bear to lose her,” the son said. He was discharged from hospital five days after the transplant.
Doctors reminded the public to avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication but go to hospital and take professional advice if they have symptoms such as coughing or fever, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to experts, the overdose of cold medicine is the main cause for over 50 percent of the acute liver damage cases in some western countries.
Drinking and taking medicine with tea or coffee can also trigger potential health risks and damage to liver tissues.
Doctors said the transplant operation was highly risky as part of the donor's liver was difficult to remove without damaging blood vessels and the recipient was in a coma.
