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A First in World Medical History: İnönü University Liver Transplant Institute performed the heptad cross liver transplant for the second time!

The heptad cross liver transplantation operation, which was performed simultaneously and actively by a team of 120 people, including 50 surgeons, in 14 operating rooms, was successfully completed.

Director of İnönü University Liver Transplantation Institute, Prof. Dr. Sezai Yilmaz:

“I do not see it possible to carry out an operation of this magnitude anywhere else in the world in the next 50 years.”

"We have one of the world's exemplary liver transplant teams. İnönü University is the world's global pioneer in cross liver transplantation."

   

İnönü University Liver Transplant Institute performed an important operation that will go down in world medical history for the second time. Seven-way cross liver transplantation was successfully completed in 14 operating rooms, where a team of 120 people, 50 of whom were surgeons, worked simultaneously and actively.

Director of İnönü University Liver Transplantation Institute, Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz stated that they performed a seven-way cross liver transplant consisting of 7 donors and 7 recipients and said, "This operation is being performed for the second time in world history and the first one was performed in Malatya. I do not see it possible to perform an operation of this magnitude anywhere else in the world in the next 50 years." he said.

Stating that 17 triple cross liver transplants have been performed in the world so far, 14 of which were performed at İnönü University, Yılmaz said, "So far, 7 quadruple cross liver transplants have been performed in the world, all of them were performed in Malatya. 3 six and 3 quintuple cross liver transplants were performed. All of them were performed here. We were the first to perform the seven-cross liver transplantation, today is a historic day, we also performed the second seven-cross liver transplant." he said.

Stating that the operation team in Malatya consists of a strong staff and is among the best in the world, Prof. Dr. Yılmaz gave the following information about the seven-way liver transplant, which made world history:

"It was carried out in 14 operating rooms at the same time and 50 surgeons worked actively. When anesthesiologists, nurses, auxiliary staff, anesthesia and radiology technicians were included, a total of 120 people took part in these operations. Such complex operations require a strong team, advanced physical facilities and advanced medical equipment. There is an incredible educational potential here, young academics are trained, and although some of them migrate to the west, this does not weaken this strong structure in any way."

“Malatya is shown as the address for cross liver transplantation in the world”

Emphasizing that many patients from Turkey and abroad have regained their health by applying to İnönü University Liver Transplant Institute, Yılmaz said, "We have incredible equipment. A worldwide liver transplant program has been established. Today, I think we are performing the 200th liver transplant of this year. The number of cross liver transplants we have done so far will be 157. Patients from countries such as Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Crimea and Yemen also have the chance to be treated thanks to cross liver transplant." he said.

Underlining that Malatya is the address for cross-liver transplantation and incompatible living donors in Turkey and the world, Yılmaz said, "An important awareness has been created for liver patients in our country and the world, and patients have started to apply to Malatya for cross-liver transplantation. We can say that İnönü University Liver Transplantation Institute is now the global pioneer of the cross-liver transplantation system in the world." he said.

   

“We use the algorithm developed by two Turkish professors from Boston”

Emphasizing that cross-liver transplantation is a method achieved through the collaboration of more than one branch of science, Yılmaz said, "We are working together with two scientists from Boston College. Prof. Dr. Tayfun Sönmez and Prof. Dr. Utku Ünver are the economists who have the most important role in the team that won the "Nobel Prize in Economics" with cross-kidney transplants in 2012. Thanks to the algorithm they developed, multiple crossovers are possible, and cross-liver transplantation is truly an extremely innovative approach."

Mother from Crimea Gave Her Liver to Another Patient, Her Daughter Recovered

Yılmaz said, "Today, one of our patients applied from Crimea for a liver transplant with 7 living donors, a cross liver transplant. He is originally Turkish but lives in Crimea. He came with his mother, a girl who has been waiting for a liver transplant for a long time, thanks to this cross liver transplant, she was able to find a liver graft from one of our patients, and her mother gave a liver to another patient. I can say that we were able to achieve an extremely good result." he said.

Yılmaz emphasized the importance of organ donation and said, "We definitely need to increase organ donation. I believe that our people are sensitive about this issue. I know that our new Minister of Health, Mr. Kemal Memişoğlu, is extremely willing and active on this issue." he said.

Thanks to cross liver transplants, Malatya has become an important center in the field of liver transplantation worldwide, while İnönü University Liver Transplant Institute continues its leadership in scientific innovations.