In the Shadow of Coronavirus

While coping with the coronavirus, Schneider Children's conducted three life-saving organ transplants in children, 2 liver transplants and one kidney transplant.

The first transplant, an intricate procedure only conducted a few times in the world, involved an 8-month-old infant who suffered from a congenital defect in his biliary canals. His condition had deteriorated rapidly, and in order to stabilize him, he underwent several invasive catheterizations to stop the seepage of fluids from his liver and simultaneously to gain time until he reached the age of 8 months when he could receive the life-saving transplant. His father donated the liver lobe. Following the operation, the infant recovered in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit after which he was transferred to Pediatrics C that specializes in treating liver recipients. He was discharged from hospital this week.

The second liver transplant was conducted in a 7½-year-old boy who suffered from a genetic liver disease which had also affected his two brothers, both of whom had previously undergone life-saving liver transplants. The kidney transplant was conducted in a 17-year-old girl who had undergone dialysis in the Nephrology Institute at Schneider Children's. Both recipients recovered in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The liver transplant was conducted by a team from the Organ Transplantation Department at Schneider Children's: Dr. Michael Gurevich, who heads the Liver Transplantation Unit at Schneider and Dr. Sigal Eisner, who oversees kidney transplantations at Schneider, together with the multidisciplinary teams of specialists. Post-operative care of liver recipients was conducted by the Institute of Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, and follow-up of kidney recipients was conducted by the team in the Nephrology Institute.

Prof. Joseph Press, Director of Schneider Children's, stated that "even during these days when we are busy with the coronavirus, Schneider Children's continues to treat children in Israel with the utmost dedication, expertise and compassion."