Telangana: OGH Doctors Record Medical History

Hyderabad: Doctors at Osmania General Hospital scripted medical history by performing a liver transplant on a 14-year-old boy with both Marfan’s syndrome and very severe hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) — a combination never before treated surgically anywhere in the world.

The patient, G. Nikhil Reddy from Gokavaram in Andhra Pradesh, had lived with Marfan’s since early childhood. He later developed severe liver disease, and eventually, his oxygen levels dropped to a dangerous 68 per cent.

Diagnosed with very severe HPS, a complication that affects lung function due to liver disease, he could barely walk or carry out daily activities.

OGH doctors initially hesitated due to the risks posed by Marfan’s syndrome, a connective tissue disorder known to weaken organs and blood vessels. “This was an extremely complex case. His anatomy was fragile, his heart and lungs were under strain, and there was no medical precedent,” said Dr C.H. Madhusudhan, who led the transplant team.

A portion of the liver was donated by the boy’s mother. The transplant was done under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) scheme, with Rs.10 lakh provided by the government. In private hospitals, a surgery of this kind could cost over Rs.60 lakh — an amount far beyond the family’s means.

After one month in the ICU and assisted ventilation, Nikhil’s oxygen saturation improved to 90 per cent. The transplanted liver is functioning well. “We believe this is the first such case globally,” said the medical team in a press conference.

The multi-disciplinary effort involved departments of gastroenterology, radiology, anaesthesia, and cardiology, among others. “It’s a lesson in how public hospitals can deliver world-class care when given support and resources,” said Dr Madhusudhan. The team said it hopes this success can give hope to other patients with rare, high-risk conditions who are often denied surgical options.