Doctors in the UK have successfully performed an organ transplant involving a newborn who donated her kidneys and liver. While neonatal transplants are performed in other countries such as the United States, Australia and Germany, the procedure was the first in the UK.
The 6-day-old baby girl was born in extremely poor health due to oxygen deficiency and brain damage while still in her mother's womb. She was born last year through emergency Caesarean section at Hammersmith Hospital in London.
"We are pleased the first transplant of organs from a newborn in the UK was a success and we praise the brave decision of the family to donate their baby's organs," Prof. James Neuberger of NHS Blood and Transplant in a statement.
The infant's parents approved to have her kidneys and liver donated to two recipients - one has renal failure while the other has failing liver. Further details of the recipients were kept confidential, according to BBC News.
The doctors said that the transplant was complicated and difficult because of the size of the organs. The kidney size of the baby at death was only 5 cm.
The successful procedure could pave the way for guideline revisions in deciding if a baby is already brain dead. The Royal College of Pediatrics will start reviewing the guidelines this year to clarify the rules. This in turn could give hope to hundreds of babies and children needing transplants as more donations are expected to happen.
"When we explained to the parents of the baby girl it could be possible to save some lives with their help they were only too keen. They came back wanting to speak to me again within a couple of hours," Dr. Gaurav Atreja, a consultant neonatologist, told The Telegraph. "They didn't need any persuading - not that that is something we would ever try to do. It's a decision that has to come from the parents without any pressure."
Details of the successful newborn organ transplant in UK can be read in the British Medical Journal.
