Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 9: Doctors at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi have successfully performed rare liver transplant surgeries on Filipino twin brothers suffering from the same congenital liver disorder, giving them a new lease of life.

The surgeries drew medical attention as both siblings, Kelly and Tyler, were diagnosed with choledochal cyst, an uncommon congenital condition affecting the bile ducts that eventually led to liver failure in both children.

According to Dr Neerav Goyal, senior consultant in Transplant and Surgical Gastroenterology at the hospital, it is extremely rare for twins to develop the same condition and both progress to advanced liver failure requiring transplantation.

A choledochal cyst is an abnormal enlargement of the bile ducts that carry bile from the liver to the intestine. If left untreated, it can result in recurrent infections, severe liver damage and, in some cases, liver failure.

Dr Goyal said the disorder affects approximately one in 100,000 children, and only about 10 per cent of those diagnosed eventually require a liver transplant, making the twins' case exceptionally rare.

Initially, both parents volunteered to donate a portion of their liver. However, the father was found medically unfit to undergo the procedure. The twins' mother and maternal uncle subsequently became living donors, each donating around 20 per cent of their liver.

Doctors said the liver's ability to regenerate made living donor transplantation possible, allowing both donors and recipients to regain healthy liver function over time.

The surgeries were successful, and both Kelly and Tyler have recovered well. Doctors said the twins are now healthy and are expected to lead normal lives.