Monday, February 22, 1999
Transplanting a baby liver
When Sydni Quinlan became the fourth smallest infant ever to get a liver transplant at Children's Hospital, the operation cured her rare genetic condition. Making it happen, however, required overcoming several challenges:
FINDING A DONOR: Babies need baby-sized livers, which requires surgeons to set weight limits for potential donors. Even though Sydni's new liver came from a child, it was still too big to use whole. Doctors transplanted the left lobe of the organ. Sydni was lucky. A matching liver, from a 22-pound child who died in Galveston, Texas, was found within four days of placing Sydni on a national waiting list.
TRICKY SURGERY: Transplanting a liver takes about six-and-a half hours. It requires connecting several major blood vessels that are about 10 times smaller than those found in adults. In addition, the blood vessels from the baby and from the donor organ are different sizes. Connecting them requires complex suturing.
FOLLOW-UP CARE: Discharged Feb. 8, Sydni will require daily blood tests at home plus frequent return hospital visits, starting at three times a week then tapering off over the next few months. She will take eight different medications — about 30 pills a day — on a strictly timed schedule; some for the rest of her life.
OUTLOOK: Although she faces risks of infections and complication from her anti-rejection drugs, Sydni has a good chance of growing into adulthood. More than 55 percent of infants who get liver transplants live at least five years. Beyond that, experts are still tracking the long-term survivors. The longest running survivor so far, is a 31-year-old patient who got a liver transplant in Denver in 1970 at age three.
Sources: United Network of Organ Sharing and Children's Hospital Medical Center
Tristate fast lanes surely make you lose your mind
Family narrowly avoids double tragedy
Ball fields replace VOA relay station
Retiring black teachers leave void
Oprah to feature missing girl's case
Help from above boosts corn crop
Minister returns to court in abuse
Memo details objections to Christmas holiday
She looks, talks, moves and smirks like Cher
Student, 25, on critical missing list
Tiny liver transplant patient goes home
Transplanting a baby liver
Callers can learn of jobs at airport
DeWine votes reflect Clinton
Mayor tries to revitalize flooded town
Milford minister joins council
Newport rolls out not-welcome mat
Ohio, Ky. aim to keep funds from tobacco suit
Parole harder to get in Ohio, says veteran board member
Rugrats upstage convention center opening
Taft sidesteps endorsing Kasich
TRISTATE DIGEST
Universal Social Security may hurt states, Taft says
