Young Falisha Zafilin bid farewell to primary sclerosing cholangitis and welcomed a more fulfilling childhood thanks to an altruistic donor, as well as NUH doctors who successfully carried out her liver transplantation procedure.
Subscribe and ensure you don't miss the next issue!A turning point in Falisha’s life came when the generosity of an altruistic donor, combined with the dedication and expertise of a team of medical experts at the National University of Hospital (NUH), led to a successful liver transplant. Now 14, she lives a more fulfilling childhood and has developed a keen interest for drama.
| At the heart of Falisha’s medical journey is her primary doctor, Dr S. Venkatesh Karthik, Senior Consultant, Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Nutrition, Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI)1 at NUH. After confirming her viability for a transplant, an altruistic donor stepped forward in September 2022, and Falisha underwent the transplant the month after, along with platelet transfusions after the surgery. The transplant was carried out at the National University Centre for Organ Transplantation (NUCOT) at NUH, which is the National Referral Centre for children up to the age of 21 years in need of a liver transplant for end-stage or metabolic liver disease. NUCOT is the only centre in Singapore that performs paediatric liver transplants, with patient outcomes comparable to international benchmarks. Falisha was referred to NUH in 2018 for a second opinion after a liver biopsy revealed that her condition had worsened due to PSC, which unfortunately has no cure. Treatment primarily involves managing symptoms and complications, such as treating cholangitis with antibiotics, or addressing end-stage liver damage through liver transplantation, which was what Falisha urgently needed when a third liver biopsy in 2021 indicated that her liver could function for only one more year. |
Photo Source: The Straits Time @ SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. |
Dr Karthik’s expertise was particularly crucial in Falisha’s case, as the complexities of PSC demanded not just surgical precision but also a nuanced approach to her ongoing care. He devised a comprehensive treatment plan that balanced the immediate demands of post-transplant care with her long-term health management.
“It’s been a gratifying experience to witness Falisha’s journey towards recovery and a new lease on life,” says Dr Karthik.
1KTP-NUCMI is part of the National University Centre for Women and Children (NUWoC), a national university specialist centre that aims to empower women, children and their families to lead healthier lives.
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