In Lviv, medical professionals successfully executed a complex ALPPS surgery, enabling the growth of part of the liver within the body of a 10-month-old child.
This was reported by the First Medical Association of Lviv on their Facebook page.
It was noted that a malignant tumor was detected in the infant at four months old. At that time, he began to lose his appetite, stopped gaining weight, and his skin became pale. The family was referred to the Cholestatic Diseases Center for Children.
A biopsy confirmed the presence of a malignant liver tumor measuring 8 centimeters out of a total of 12, affecting all four sectors of the liver. The child was categorized as a high-risk patient.
Doctors promptly initiated chemotherapy, which managed to reduce the tumor size by half over four months of treatment. However, the threat to his life remained. It was clarified that a liver transplant was not an option due to the child weighing only 8 kg.
“Another option was a very complex ALPPS surgery, which our doctors had never performed before. This method is new, and only a few such interventions are performed on children worldwide each year. ALPPS involves radical resection, meaning almost complete removal of the liver. After consultations with Polish colleagues, Lviv's pediatric surgeons decided to proceed with this new method, as it was the only way to fight for Demianchik's life,” the medical association noted.
They explained that during the first stage, the surgeons separated the liver into healthy and affected parts. The blood vessels supplying the diseased area were clamped to halt the tumor's growth, while the organ continued to perform its functions.
“15% of the separated healthy liver tissue grew fourfold within a week after the procedure! This means that the doctors managed to grow enough tissue from a critically small volume for the next stage of surgery. Such cases are rare even in the world. Thus, the surgeons could proceed with the removal of the tumor-affected part of the organ,” the medical staff emphasized.
There was a second stage where a blood vessel needed to be replaced within half an hour.
The medical association informed that Demianchik continues to receive chemotherapy, but the results of regular examinations are encouraging: the liver has regenerated to its full size and is functioning smoothly. The child has regained his appetite and started to gain weight.
