Latest news with #PaediatricIntensiveCareUnit
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
Youngest Emirati baby undergoes liver transplant in Abu Dhabi
13 Aug 2025 08:28 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)An Abu Dhabi hospital has set a national record by performing a liver transplant on the youngest Emirati Ahmed Yahya, Yahya and Zainab Al Yassi's fifth child and first surviving son, was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition affecting his liver and other vital systems. Doctors at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) linked the case to an ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, an ultra-rare genetic disorder with fewer than 25 known cases worldwide. 'This disease is a severe, multisystem condition that particularly affects the liver. In Ahmed's case, the disorder was progressing rapidly toward liver failure,' said Dr Johns Shaji Mathew, Abdominal Transplant and Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgeon at the baby's condition critical, the family sought a living donor to avoid delay. Hope came from within the family when the wife of his father's brother volunteered and, remarkably, proved a perfect match. The donor is not biologically related to the child. As Dr Mathew told Aletihad: 'Liver transplantation can be performed from a living donor who is not biologically related to the recipient, provided there is blood group compatibility.'The transplant, described as one of the most technically challenging paediatric surgeries conducted in the region, was carried out at BMC on April 4, 2025 and led by Dr Gourab Sen, Director – Transplant Surgery, Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Program, and Dr Mathew. The team prepared a mono-segment graft to fit the infant's tiny abdominal cavity. Paediatric anaesthesia was managed by Dr Ramamurthy Baskaran, Division Chair of Anaesthesia, with Dr George Jacob and Dr Anshu S, while perioperative care in the PICU was overseen by Dr Kesava Ramakrishnan, Consultant, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, and his team.'This was a precision operation that lasted 12 hours, including the donor and the recipient surgery. In an infant this tiny, every structure is delicate beyond imagination, each vessel was thinner than a matchstick, and the margin for error was virtually zero. The surgery required not only technical expertise but constant focus, as we were working in millimetres, sometimes even fractions of a millimetre,' said Dr. the graft to Aletihad, Dr. Mathew said: 'A small portion of the donor's left lateral segment — about 15% of the total liver volume — was used, which was appropriate because Ahmed was a small baby, weighing only 4.4 kg. He contrasted this with typical adult-to-adult procedures: 'In adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation, the right lobe is usually used, comprising about 60–70% of the donor's liver. This is feasible because healthy individuals with good liver quality can maintain normal function with a remnant liver volume of at least 30–35%.'Despite the high-risk nature of the operation and the child's fragile condition, the surgery was a success. Ahmed was extubated soon after surgery, began feeding within days and has shown excellent liver function, according to clinicians involved in his care. He remains under close follow-up for growth, neurodevelopment and immune monitoring. The hospital said the successful transplant underscores the role of living donation and highly specialised paediatric transplant capability in the UAE, while the focus remains firmly on the child's recovery and long-term donor's recovery has also been positive. 'The donor is currently doing well. Such operations are possible because the liver has a unique ability to regenerate — not necessarily to its original anatomical shape, but to the functional volume the body requires. This regeneration occurs over weeks to months,' Dr. Mathew said. On likely recovery timelines, Dr. Mathew added: 'Although it is a major surgery with potential short- and long-term implications for the donor's quality of life, most donors return to normal daily activities within 1–3 months, assuming an uncomplicated recovery.' As World Organ Donation Day is observed on August 13 every year, Ahmed Yahya's survival from an ultra-rare genetic disorder underlines the life-saving impact of living organ donation.
Irish Independent
04-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Kerry mother ‘blown away' by support for fundraiser for medical team who saved her baby's life
Geraldine and Brendan O'Shea had never heard of The Irish Paediatric Acute Transport Service (IPATS) until their daughter Nell became very ill at just 13 months old having contracted Sepsis. As her life hung in the balance the need to transfer her from Cork University Hospital to Crumlin's Children's Hospital was immediate and this is where this vital medical team stepped in. IPATS supports the transfer of critically ill infants and children to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin or Temple Street Children's University Hospital and for Geraldine and Brendan they played a key role in saving their child's life. Now three months later as Nell is fully recovering and thriving the family wanted to help the medical team by raising funds and with the help of a fundraising walk and a GoFundMe they have raised more than €20,000 ' We wanted to give something back to them that but we never expected to be give something this big,' said Geraldine. 'We are eternally grateful to IPATS, they saved Nell. We owe them our baby's life.' The 5k fundraising walk took place from the Fair Field in Cahersiveen on Sunday last, June 1 and was a huge success with almost 500 taking part. "Someone said to me there was a real sense of community at the event. People are so genuine. It was a fabulous day. We will look back on this day fondly,' said Geraldine thanking everyone who supported them while Nell was ill and now during their fundraising drive. "We are absolutely blown away.' The money will now be used to buy equipment for the service. It is not a registered charity, so instead of handing over the funds raised Geraldine will buy the equipment they need which she said means everyone knows where the money is going. The GoFundMe will remain open for another week to allow the final donations come in. It can be found at
The Star
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Baby in suspected abuse case doing well, say cops
MELAKA: Police have denied a viral WhatsApp message claiming that a two-month-old baby boy, suspected of being abused by his parents until he lost consciousness, has died. Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the baby is now conscious, able to drink milk as usual and is in stable condition under the care of medical specialists at Hospital Melaka. 'The claim that the baby has died is false. The baby boy may also be moved from the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (Picu) to a regular ward, depending on the doctor's report. 'The baby has also been placed under the supervision of the Alor Gajah Social Welfare Department (JKM),' he told reporters at the Melaka police headquarters. Dzulkhairi said the investigation paper for the case is almost complete and will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor, with a proposed charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children's Act 2001, Bernama reported. He advised the public to be more responsible and not disseminate false information that can hamper investigations. On May 7, it was reported that a couple, both 22, were remanded for seven days on suspicion of abusing their baby in Taman Seri Pelangi, Alor Gajah. Preliminary investigations found that the baby's mother initially claimed that her child had experienced seizures and lost consciousness when seeking treatment at the Hospital Alor Gajah, but the case was later referred to Hospital Melaka. Medical specialists at Hospital Melaka suspected abuse and lodged a police report after examinations, including a CT scan, revealed both recent and past injuries to the baby's head, along with bruises and wounds on the body and neck.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
Parents of baby boy remanded over abuse
MELAKA: The parents of a two-month-old boy suspected of being abused in Sungai Petai, Alor Gajah, have been remanded for seven days to assist in investigations. The remand order was issued by Ayer Keroh Sessions Court Judge Haderiah Siri against the couple, both aged 22, today. The remand, which runs until May 13, is to facilitate investigations under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. The unemployed couple was arrested by a police team at about 6.30 pm yesterday in front of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Melaka Hospital. Their arrest followed a report lodged by a medical specialist at the hospital, who found both recent and older injuries to the victim's head during an examination. Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the injuries were believed to be the result of abuse. The baby had initially been taken to Alor Gajah Hospital after the mother claimed he was suffering from seizures, before being referred to Melaka Hospital.
