The waiting list for organs has always been pretty dire. Now, however, surgeons at Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, have split a liver between two patients, after the first agreed to share.
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The liver-sharing operation saved both lives and signals a huge step forward in liver transplants. Its success is significant news for many needing a new liver. Unlike many other organs, sometimes only a part of a liver is needed to grow the rest. A liver can grow back to normal size even after 90% is removed.
Kelli Podrez was booked in for her liver transplant and was next in line on the list. However, when she heard about Barclay Missen, she knew she had to do something. Missen had stage 4 colorectal cancer, and probably wouldn't survive the waiting list.
She stepped in and agreed to share her liver despite knowing it might cost her her life. The process of splitting a liver between two patients is a new one and comes with significant danger. However, she was willing to go ahead with it, even at the risk of her own life.
She told news outlets that she knew she needed to do it. She had lost her brother-in-law to colorectal cancer and jumped at the chance to help someone else.
Both Patients Pull Through Liver Share Surgery
Thanks to the research and expertise of the surgeons, the liver-sharing surgery went down without a hitch. Now, both patients are well and healthy. Missen has no signs of colorectal cancer in his body, and Podrez is living with a healthy liver.
This signals significant progress in liver transplant surgery. It is a good sign for people suffering from colorectal cancer. The list, for these cases, essentially halves now they know that it is possible to share a liver between two.
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