Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis: How a doctor saved the life of a four-year-girl

Dr Madhusudhan (in violet colored shirt) with his young patient

With great power comes great responsibility. Few try to stick to this noble ideal as the world we know is selfish by nature where Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' theory always wins.

This Thursday (December 7, 2017), four-year-old Soujanya disproved Darwinian theory as she came out smiling out of the operation theatre post a live liver transplantation surgery at Hyderabad based Maxcure Hospitals, Secretariat.

The story

Diagnosed with a rare liver disease called Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, she had a happy and healthy childhood until she was two. Medical literature shows that there were only three recorded instances of pediatric Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis getting a live liver transplant in India.

Everything changed for her father, Madepalli Satheesh, a resident of Warangal and a barber with a meagre income of Rs. 6000 per month, as he had to raced against time to raise Rs 20 lakh to fund his daughter's liver transplant.

Though they visited several private hospitals in Hyderabad, they were politely told that they could not take up her surgery with nothing less than 25 lakhs.

Their struggle for funds did not yield fruit though they have been to the CMO. When disappointment became a norm, life becomes a nightmare.

However, they were greeted by a faint hope when they met noted liver transplant surgeon, Dr. Ch Madhusudhan, Consultant surgical Gastroenterologist, who initiated a process of funding under Arogyasri scheme with the government.

Book an appointment with Dr Ch Madhusudhan here

Arogyasri nod

While there was a formal nod from the government to support her case for transplant treatment worth Rs 10 lakh under Arogyasri, they were not enough as a live liver donation is fraught with risks and complications unless all infrastructure and expert team support are not there.

It was obvious that this transplant was to be done only at a tertiary care private centre with all facilities that were provided at Maxcure Hospitals, Secretariat but it would mean that more funds would have to be raised so that it could be carried out.

Not wasting further time, Dr. Ch Madhusudhan, Consultant surgical Gastroenterologist, started raising more funds for the transplant by making fervent appeals to his friends.

The challenge

The transplant process started using 130gm of live liver obtained from her father Madepalli Satheesh but before his liver could be cut open, the transplant team faced a hurdle as no anaesthetist came forward to help.

The problem was solved when the transplant team headed by Dr. Ch Madhusudhan, Consultant surgical Gastroenterologist, requested Dr Prem, transplant anaesthetist trained at Medanta, to intervene.

Before the transplant, there were further complexities in the case as the team found that lung cysts had totally made her liver non-functional and time was running out fast.

Finally, there was a happy ending to the case but there is also a flip side to it as Soujanya will be on lifelong immuno-suppression drugs costing around 6000 to 8000 per month.

Also Read: This surgical gastroenterologist adjudged best government doctor in Telangana