In a first for Asia, Thai hospital conducts first triple organ transplant
Recipient, whose condition had once driven him to contemplate suicide, is doing well five months since the heart, liver and kidney transplant operation
By Apinya Wipatayotin
Siriraj Hospital announced Wednesday it conducted a successful heart, liver and kidney transplant on a 26-year-old man who had lived with chronic organ diseases for almost two decades.
This operation is thought to be the first of its kind in Asia, and the 15th in the world, according to the hospital.
The 12-hour operation, carried out on December 3, was performed by a team led by Dr Yongyut Sirivatanauksorn, vice director of Siriraj Hospital.
The recipient, Rachanond Rungsawang from Bangkok, had suffered from kidney problems since the age of eight which later led to serious heart and liver diseases. Before the operation, he had to go to hospital three times a week for dialysis.
The need for a multiple transplant took on more urgency in August last year when he was admitted to Siriraj Hospital after his organs began to fail.
His chance of a new lease of life came on December 3, when the donated organs from a single donor proved a match.
