The world's oldest liver transplant patient found healing in Malatya
Prof. Dr. Abdel Hamit Methkal, a 77-year-old Jordanian ENT surgeon who worked in state hospitals in Jordan for 22 years and most recently opened a private clinic performing rhinoplasty, fell ill and was diagnosed with cirrhosis.
Prof. Dr. Methkal, who then came to İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center on recommendation, was healed after a liver transplant in which a piece was taken from his daughter, the donor, by Liver Transplant Institute Director Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz, Turgut Özal Medical Center Chief Physician Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adil Başkıran and their team.
Thanking God, who granted him a new life, and the colleagues who performed his operation, Prof. Dr. Methkal said that because of the process he went through he better understood that doctors should pay more attention to their patients.
Chief Physician Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adil Başkıran also said that the Turgut Özal Medical Center Liver Transplant Institute is now the world's liver transplant center, and that they were delighted to have performed a liver transplant on the world's oldest patient, who is also a colleague.
"I praise God, who granted me a second life again, and I thank my liver transplant professors who performed my operation"
Abdel Hamit Methkal
Telling his story with the help of an interpreter, Methkal said that 9 months before coming to Malatya he first had fluid accumulation in his abdomen and swelling in his feet, and said: "I suspected coronavirus. I went to the doctor and they sent me to the liver department for tests. The tests diagnosed me with cirrhosis. After the diagnosis I consulted the doctors there. They said that because of my advanced age the operation was risky. There is a family doctor working at the same hospital; we talked. He recommended Turgut Özal Medical Center. He advised that liver transplants are performed well here. Then I came to Istanbul, where I also had acquaintances among doctors. They too recommended Turgut Özal Medical Center, saying the transplant surgery here is good. Finally I came here and talked with the doctors. However risky it was, because I trusted this place I decided to have the operation, and thank God I had the transplant. I praise God for granting me a second life. Truly everyone took very good care of me throughout this process. My health is very good. I thank everyone who performed my operation, first of all Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz. During this process I understood better that doctors should pay more attention to their patients."
"Perhaps he has gone down in history as the world's oldest patient"
Adil Başkıran (right)
Başkıran said: "Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adil Başkıran: Before our patient Mr. Abdel Hamit came here, they called Istanbul about transplantation and sent his laboratory and radiological findings, saying the patient was 77 years old. At first I refused the patient because he was 77. Because this is the World Liver Transplant Center, our doctor colleague Ali Aloun from Jordan, who came here for liver transplant training, called me and said our patient was physically suitable and asked me to reassess him. On the advice of our surgeon colleague from Jordan we invited our patient here. He was evaluated here 8 months ago and found suitable for transplantation. Looking at the data, he has perhaps gone down in history as the world's oldest patient. He is a source of pride for us, and his being healthy makes us happy."
"At our World Liver Transplant Center, the best surgeons of their countries are being trained here"
Noting that because he is a physician himself the post-operative period went a little more comfortably, Başkıran said: "He came for a check-up now. Everything has gone well so far, both before and after the transplant. At our World Liver Transplant Center, the best surgeons from foreign countries are currently being trained here in their own countries' name. We performed the operation of the world's oldest liver transplant patient at İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center's World Liver Transplant Institute in Malatya, and we are proud of it."
https://www.ilkha.com/saglik/dunyanin-en-yasli-karaciger-nakli-hastasi-sifayi-malatya-da-buldu-193253