HMC Surgeons Conduct First Liver Transplant in Qatar

Doha, December 11 (QNA) - A team of surgeons at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has performed the first liver transplant in Qatar, becoming the first medical center in the region to have conducted the complicated life saving surgery relying solely on local specialists. The transplanted liver was donated by a 48-year-old Filipino resident who died of a cerebral stroke. His liver was donated to a 43-year-old Egyptian patient who had suffered for several year complications due to Hepatitis C. The recipient is recovering well after his life changing surgery and is being closely monitored by the medical team from the Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation (QCOT) along with a team of medical professionals at Hamad General Hospital. The surgical team was led by Dr. Abdulla Al Ansari, Consultant Surgeon and Chairman of Surgery at HMC. The team included three consultant surgeons specializing in liver transplants: Hatem Khalaf, Mohamed Shoudry, Henrique Yaktsen in addition to consultant anesthesiologist Mohamad Nagy al Masri. The first liver transplant comes one week after the inauguration of the QCOT. HMC dedicates this great medical achievement to Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, in recognition and appreciation of her unwavering and infinite support of the National Organ Transplant Program. It is testimony to HMC s continuous commitment to represent and achieve HH the Emir sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's vision for Qatar to become one of the world s leading countries in medical services, especially in organ transplants. HMC Managing Director Hanan al Kuwari PhD said: "We are proud of this great local achievement which is the culmination of the efforts of an integrated medical and administrative team over a period of more than two years. HMC achieved its goal and integrated the liver transplant program into the Qatar Program for Organ Transplantation. This was part of the organization s continuous commitment to excellence and improvement which brings real, life changing results for our patients." Dr. Abdulla al Ansari said: "Dr. Hanan al Kuwari s leadership and support of the Liver Transplant Program s efforts since its first inception, was instrumental to the success of this surgery. She ensured that all success factors were available for this program, from the submission of the program s first idea, to the selection of the surgical team members, and their training in the world's best medical institutions".(QNA)