In World's first, Chennai hosp performs Robotic liver transplant on 5-year-old
Chennai, May 22 (UNI) Perhaps for the first time in the world, the Chennai-based leading multi-speciality Rela Hospital has successfully performed a Robotic Liver Transplant on the youngest recipient to date-- five-year-old child.
This marked a major milestone in the field of robotic and paediatric transplant surgery, combining cutting-edge technology with complex surgical expertise to deliver faster recovery and improved outcomes.
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, its Chairman Prof Mohammed Rela said the hospital has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first hospital in the world to perform a robotic liver transplant on a five-year-old child.
This makes the child the youngest recipient of a robotic liver transplant globally, marking a major advancement in both paediatric and robotic surgery.
The patient (recipient), a five-year-old boy, was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Urea Cycle Defect, in which the liver cannot properly process proteins from food, leading to a harmful buildup of ammonia in the blood--a condition that can severely affect the brain.
A liver transplant offered a definitive cure. The surgery proceeded smoothly without any complications, and the child was discharged within a week.
In contrast, the conventional approach typically requires a hospital stay of 14 to 21 days, he said.
The fact that the robotic surgery was performed on a child makes this achievement even more significant, as pediatric bodies offer far less space than adults', posing greater challenges for the insertion and maneuvering of robotic instruments.
Remarkably, even the procedure to harvest a portion of the liver from a living donor was carried out using robotic assistance. The donor also had a brief hospital stay and was discharged within five days.
Prof. Mohamed Rela said this was the first time in the world, Pediatric liver transplantation has been successfully performed completely using the Robotic Platform. This is a major milestone in the field
of surgery itself.
This is an extremely complex surgery with delicate microvascular anastomosis techniques. To add
to the complexity the operation was also performed as an Auxiliary Liver Transplant which is the
most technically complex of all liver transplant operations.
This advancement in the field of liver transplantation not only offers rapid recovery with less pain,
but also helps with normal psycho-social development of these children during their teen years without a large scar in their abdomen.
UNI GV 1625
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
38 minutes ago
- India Today
Animal rights group Peta wants Telangana lab closed over cruelty allegations
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India has urged the central government to permanently shut down a registered animal testing facility in Telangana, citing chronic and grave violations of animal welfare a letter addressed to Abhijit Mitra, Chairman of the Committee for the Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA), Peta India said it had obtained video footage, photos, and insider testimonies from former employees documenting the alleged abuse at the Mahabubnagar-based facility between 2021 and group urged the CCSEA to revoke the Palamur Biosciences Pvt Ltd registration and rehabilitate all surviving animals. News agency PTI reached out to Palamur Biosciences for a reaction but did not receive a response. In the letter, Peta India claimed the company kept nearly 1,500 beagles in a space designed for only 800, bred them far beyond recommended limits, and failed to provide medical care even in cases of serious injuries and animal rights group alleged widespread noncompliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and CCSEA guidelines. Dogs were allegedly injected with test substances that caused abscesses, ulcers, and severe pain, with many left untreated. Some dogs vomited large amounts of blood before dying, the letter said, citing also accused staff of rough handling, including kicking animals and slamming cage doors on their limbs, as seen on letter raised concerns about the company's treatment of minipigs and monkeys. It alleged that piglets born from an unlicensed minipig breeding were killed using painful intracardiac injections without reportedly captured illegally from Rajasthan were kept in plastic bags during transport, and two tested positive for monkeypox. Despite the public health risk, the company allegedly proceeded with testing on the remaining animals."These actions not only flout Indian animal welfare regulations but also pose biosecurity and ethical risks," said Dr Anjana Aggarwal, PETA India's Scientist and Research Policy Advisor, who signed the company's practices are entirely out of step with global developments, such as the U.S. government's recent decision to phase out animal testing, the letter recent announcements by the U.S. FDA and NIH promoting human-relevant alternatives to animal experiments, PETA India urged Indian authorities to take a similar path and start by ensuring the release of all animals from Palamur Biosciences to loving homes or recognised India offered to work with NGOs to assist with the placement and care of the animals. The CCSEA operates under the Department of Animal Husbandry and by Rithu Pawar IN THIS STORY#Telangana
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Scientists Warn Of Space Jam As Satellite Numbers Hit Critical Levels
Last Updated: As of May 2025, Earth is being circled by over 11,700 active satellites, a number that's climbing with astonishing speed SpaceX's Starlink accounts for 60% of active satellites. (News18 Hindi) Look up at the night sky and there's a good chance you're staring at more than just stars. As of May 2025, Earth is being circled by over 11,700 active satellites, a number that's climbing with astonishing speed. Data cited by Live Science revealed that more than 2,800 satellites were launched in 2024 alone, amounting to roughly one new launch every 34 hours. Much of this orbital rush is being driven not by governments, but by private space giants, with Elon Musk's SpaceX leading the charge. The company's ambitious Starlink program has already deployed more than 7,400 satellites, accounting for nearly 60% of all operational satellites currently in orbit. The surge is largely fueled by the rise of 'mega constellations", vast networks of satellites designed to deliver global internet and communication services, particularly in remote and underserved regions. Besides Starlink, other major contenders in the orbital broadband race include Amazon's Project Kuiper, the UK-based OneWeb, and a number of fast-expanding Chinese ventures. But while these projects promise to bridge digital divides, they're also triggering serious concerns about space sustainability. The region most affected is low-Earth orbit (LEO), the atmospheric layer extending up to 2,000 kilometres above the Earth's surface. Scientists warn that LEO has a 'carrying capacity", a threshold beyond which safe satellite operations become increasingly difficult due to congestion and the risk of collisions. That number is estimated at around 1,00,000 active satellites. At the current rate of launches, experts caution we may hit that ceiling well before 2050. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics estimates the total satellite population, including inactive or defunct units, has already reached approximately 14,900. And as more commercial players enter the space race, that number is expected to explode. The implications are far-reaching. Beyond the immediate risks of in-orbit collisions and space debris, there are growing concerns over radio interference, light pollution affecting astronomical observations, and questions around regulatory oversight. First Published: June 10, 2025, 20:12 IST
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
India pushes for global ocean pact at UN summit
New Delhi, June 10 (UNI) India on Tuesday made a powerful pitch for global ocean pact at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), even as Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the country's leadership in deep-sea exploration, marine plastic reduction, and sustainable coastal development. Addressing the international gathering, Dr. Singh showcased India's ambitious Deep Ocean Mission, including the upcoming deployment of its first manned submersible, Samudrayaan, by 2026. He also emphasised India's national ban on single-use plastics, progress on the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign, and the launch of the SAHAV digital ocean data portal, signaling India's rising influence in marine science and governance, according to a Union Science and Technology Ministry's statement. The Minister dwelled in details about the USD 80 billion port-led projects under the Sagarmala Programme as well as USD 2.5 Billion Fisheries Investment through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The Minister also said that as a green initiative to combat climate change threats, 6.6% of EEZ has been declared marine protected areas to support biodiversity goals, the statement added. 'Also, since 2022, over 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste removed from coastlines while 10,000 plus hectares of mangroves and nature-based shoreline solutions have been restored,' said the Minister. He also called on global leaders to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, finalize a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty, and adopt a bold Nice Ocean Action Plan to accelerate action for SDG-14: Life Below Water. Dr. Singh underscored the urgent need for science-driven, inclusive global partnerships. "The ocean is our shared heritage and responsibility. India stands ready to collaborate across sectors and borders for a sustainable ocean future," he declared. India also played a prominent role in global dialogues—co-leading Blue Talks with France and Costa Rica, and hosting high-level side sessions on marine spatial planning and climate-resilient coasts, he added. UNI AJ SSP
