11-Year-Old Iraqi Girl Gets Lifesaving Liver Transplant in India
An 11-year-old Iraqi girl with advanced liver failure caused by Wilson’s disease has recovered after a complex living donor liver transplant in Gurugram.
An 11-year-old girl from Iraq has returned home after undergoing a complex living donor liver transplant at Paras Health Gurugram for advanced liver failure caused by Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder that leads to copper accumulation in the body.
The child, identified as Zainab, had experienced recurrent jaundice, weakness and fatigue for nearly a year. Her condition eventually progressed to severe liver damage, hepatic encephalopathy and impaired blood clotting, making transplantation necessary.
After travelling to India for specialised treatment, doctors at Paras Health evaluated a family member as a potential living donor. The child underwent a transplant using a 364-gram left lobe liver graft with the middle hepatic vein. The recipient surgery lasted around eight hours, while the donor procedure took approximately four hours.
Doctors said the operation was particularly challenging because of her young age, advanced liver disease and the need to ensure the graft was appropriately sized. A multidisciplinary team of 18 doctors was involved in the procedure.
Zainab spent about five days in the ICU and around two weeks in hospital. She initially required ventilator and blood-pressure support but gradually recovered, began eating normally and was able to walk. Her liver function tests were normal at discharge.
She has since returned to Iraq and is reportedly doing well. Doctors have advised screening for her two younger brothers because Wilson’s disease is genetic. The child is expected to gradually resume normal activities and school.
