PKLI starts free liver transplants

Punjab Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute (PKLI) Rawalpindi has commenced liver transplant services after successfully performing two liver transplants under a 100% subsidy through its financial screening programme.

Kidney transplant services are scheduled to begin in September, while the Punjab government is also expected to launch a fully free kidney and liver transplant programme soon.

The two successful liver transplants were performed on consecutive days at PKLI Rawalpindi, further strengthening the institute's capacity to provide advanced transplant facilities.

The first transplant was performed on August 25 on a patient from Rajanpur suffering from decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). The procedure was successfully carried out by Professor Faisal Saud Dar, Dr Ehsanul Haq and Dr Bilal Ahmed Khan. The patient's nephew donated the liver.

The second transplant was performed on August 26 on a patient from Kallar Syedan, Rawalpindi, who was suffering from decompensated chronic liver disease associated with non-B, non-C (NBNC) hepatitis. The patient's sister donated the liver. The same medical team successfully performed the procedure.

According to the PKLI administration, both patients were successfully weaned off ventilators on the day of their respective transplants. Both patients are conscious and stable.