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Fernando M, Tillakaratne S, Gunetilleke B, Liyanage C, Appuhamy C, Weerasuriya A, Uragoda B, Welikala N, Ranaweera L, Ganewatte E, Dissanayake J, Mudalige A, Siriwardana R. Challenges faced in establishing a pediatric liver transplant program in a lower-middle-income country with free healthcare service. Pediatr Transplant 2024; 28:e14681. [PMID: 38317346 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplant is the cure for children with liver failure. Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income country with a predominant free, state health system. Pediatric liver transplant program in Sri Lanka is still in the budding state where the initial experience of the program is yet to be documented. METHODS A retrospective review was performed including the clinical characteristics of all pediatric liver transplant recipients of Colombo North Centre for Liver Diseases since the inception of the program from June 2020 to May 2023. RESULTS There were 14 PLT performed in 3 years. The median recipient age and weight were 8 years (6 months-15 years) and 23.3 kg (6.4-49.2), respectively. The majority were boys (64%). All were from low-income backgrounds. Indications for LT were acute liver failure (5/14), decompensated chronic liver disease (5/14), and acute on chronic liver failure (4/14). Underlying liver diseases were Wilson disease (6/14), autoimmune liver disease (3/14), biliary atresia (2/14) and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (1/14), and unknown etiology (2/14). The majority were living donor liver transplants (86%). Of the living donors, 42% (5/12) were Buddhist priests. There were three immediate deaths and two late deaths. The 3-month survival was 78%, and overall survival was 64%. Living donor transplants carried a higher success rate (92%) compared to diseased donor transplants (0%; 2/2). CONCLUSIONS Initial experience of pediatric liver transplant program of Sri Lanka is promising despite being established in a free healthcare system amidst the crisis circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meranthi Fernando
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
| | - Suchintha Tillakaratne
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Bhagya Gunetilleke
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Chinthaka Appuhamy
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Aruna Weerasuriya
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Nadeeshya Welikala
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | | | | | | | | | - Rohan Siriwardana
- Colombo North Centre For Liver Diseases, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
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Siriwardana R, Gunetilleke B, Jayatunge S, Weerasooriya A, Niriella M, Dassanayake A, Ranaweera S, Tillakaratne S. The long-term quality of life following liver transplantation in a developing country with a free health care system. Ceylon Med J 2022; 67:89-93. [PMID: 37933631 DOI: 10.4038/cmj.v67i3.9695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Developing countries with limited resources are yet to establish universal liver transplant (LT) services to cater to their population free of charge. In this unique setting, no data are published on the long-term Quality of life (QOL) of LT survivors. Objectives Compare the long-term quality of life of post-liver transplant patients with a matching cohort of pretransplant cirrhotic patients and a matching non cirrhotic control group. Methods: Of the 45 liver transplants that were performed there were 24 patients who completed over 6 months of follow-up. Of these, 4 patients died (including one lost to follow-up) after six months. The remaining 20 post-transplant patients were the subjects for QOL assessment. One post-transplant recipient was matched with two pre-transplant cirrhotic patients and non-cirrhotic healthy control group. QOL was evaluated by the SF-36 questionnaire. Results and conclusions The median age was 54 years (27-67) and 85% (n=17) were male. The median follow up was 24 months (6- 94 months). The median MELD score was 17 (11-22) and 75% (n=15) were due to cryptogenic cirrhosis. Post-operatively three (15%) developed graft rejection, five (25%) had infections and ten (50%) suffered drug related complications. 95% (n= 19) of the population had satisfactory drug compliance. The study population had significantly better QOL compared to control in all eight domains (p<0.05) including physical functioning (76% vs 52.7%), physical health (80% vs 7.9%), emotional problems (93% vs 17.1%), energy (77% vs 47%), emotional wellbeing (80% vs 61.1%), social functioning (86.9% vs 56.9%), pain (82% vs 47.5%) and general health (67.5% vs 37.5%). The study population had similar quality of life compared to the healthy control group with better-perceived emotional well-being. Conclusion Long-term survivors after LT have significantly improved QOL in a setting with limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Siriwardana
- Faculty of Medicine ,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - B Gunetilleke
- Faculty of Medicine ,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - S Jayatunge
- Faculty of Medicine ,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | | | - M Niriella
- Faculty of Medicine ,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - A Dassanayake
- Faculty of Medicine ,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - S Ranaweera
- Faculty of Medicine ,University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
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