Rare Split Liver Transplant Doubles Donor Impact, Saving Two Patients Amid Pediatric Organ Shortage

Split Adult liver Saves toddler And Another Recipient In Rare Dual Transplant children‘s Health Dallas

USA: A rare split liver transplant at children’s Health in Dallas gave new life to a toddler born with biliary atresia and end-stage liver failure, dramatically reducing wait-time barriers for a child who had been on the national list for more than a year. pediatric transplant surgeon Dr. Yun Kwan surgically divided a single adult donor liver, transplanting a small segment into the child and allocating the remaining portion to an adult recipient, a procedure performed at only a handful of pediatric centers nationwide.

The toddler, Luna Fuentes, arrived with advanced cirrhosis and persistent jaundice that left clinicians concerned about rapid decline. After the call on November 18th that a suitable organ was available, the multidisciplinary team completed the complex operation; hospital staff report the process required many hours in the operating room and intense coordination. children’s Health is one of roughly ten pediatric hospitals in the country capable of split liver transplantation, a technique used in approximately 100 cases annually to extend the impact of a single donor.

Postoperative recovery brought immediate, striking improvement: caregivers noted appetite and activity changes soon after the transplant. Clinicians managed two episodes of rejection effectively, and the child’s prognosis is described as excellent, with expectations for a normal childhood ahead. Both families—those of the recipients and the donor family who authorized procurement—are acknowledged for the decision that made dual transplants possible.

The case underscores how innovative surgical approaches and specialized pediatric programs can stretch scarce resources and save multiple lives from a single donation. The hospital’s transplant wall, now bearing the child’s name, stands as a reminder of the technical skill and human sacrifice behind each transplantation.

Video originally published on 2026-01-05 13:38:44