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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 June 2016 SINGAPORE’S FIRST ALTRUISTIC NON-DIRECTED LIVER DONATION The team at the National University Hospital (NUH) has successfully performed a liver transplant involving Singapore’s first altruistic non-directed liver donor, 54-year-old Mr Lim Kok Seng and the recipient, 16-year-old Lim Si Jia. Even before the Human Organ Transplant Act was passed in 1987, Mr Lim had voluntarily signed up to be an organ donor. He had also pledged his organs and body tissues for transplant, education or research purposes after he passes on, under the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act. Mr Lim stepped forward to be a non-directed liver donor in January 2015 as he wanted to donate his liver before he turns 55, the recommended cut-off age to be a living liver donor. This meant that he was willing for his liver to be used for the most needy patient on the national waiting list. He was assessed by the Ministry of Health’s National Organ Transplant Unit and subsequently referred to the National University Centre for Organ Transplantation (NUCOT) at the NUH for further evaluation. He was found to be a suitable donor for Si Jia, who was diagnosed with glycogen storage disease at the age of eight. Glycogen storage disease is a rare genetic condition where the body is incapable of producing a critical enzyme needed to break down glycogen – the body’s store of sugar. Glycogen is stored in various organs in our body. As such, there are different types of glycogen storage diseases. In the liver varieties, the deficiencies of enzymes are in the liver. The affected patients are unable to produce the appropriate enzymes to break down the glycogen stored within the liver. Without the appropriate enzyme, the glycogen accumulates in the liver and often results in the liver swelling. As the body is unable to use the glycogen to normalise blood sugar level, this can affect both physical and neurological wellbeing. Low blood sugar levels occur during fasting states. Due to her condition, Si Jia needed a regular feed of uncooked starch, such as cornstarch mixed with water, which she would take every night before bed time. The uncooked starch serves as constant supply of glucose to the body. Over time, the accumulation of unused glucose as glycogen in the liver can cause tumours to develop in her liver and these can become cancerous. Si Jia received a new lease of life in March 2016, following a 10-hour surgery. The transplant surgery was carried out by two teams of surgeons, led by Professor Krishnakumar Madhavan (Co-director, NUCOT) and Dr Shridhar Iyer (Senior Consultant, NUCOT). They were supported by a multi-disciplinary team comprising gastroenterologists, anaesthetists, transplant co-ordinators and nurses. “We have seen cases where the liver donation is directed and for a specific person who is known to the donor. This is the first time we have a truly altruistic, non-directed liver donor in Singapore. We hope that Mr Lim’s compassion and generosity will encourage more people with such levels of altruism to step forward to provide the ultimate gift of life to someone in need of an organ,” says Professor Krishnakumar Madhavan. “Si Jia will need to be on long term medications to ensure her body does not reject the transplanted liver but she is recovering well. She should be able to take part in normal school activities,” Professor Quak Seng Hock (Head & Senior Consultant, Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) who has been taking care of Si Jia since 2008, said. “Because of the liver transplant, Si Jia can now have a better quality of life and take part in more physical activities which she had always wanted but did not have the opportunity to do so.” - END - About the National University Hospital The NUH is a tertiary hospital and major referral centre for a comprehensive range of medical, surgical and dental specialties. The Hospital also provides organ transplant programmes for adults (in kidney, liver and pancreas) and is the only public hospital in Singapore to offer a paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme. Staffed by a team of healthcare professionals who rank among the best in the field, the NUH offers quality patient care by embracing innovations and advances in medical treatment. In 2004, the NUH became the first Singapore hospital to receive the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, an international stamp for excellent clinical practices in patient care and safety. Today, patient safety and good clinical outcomes remain the focus of the hospital as it continues to play a key role in the training of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and in translational research which paves the way for new cures and treatment, offering patients hope and a new lease of life. A member of the National University Health System, it is the principal teaching hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the NUS Faculty of Dentistry. For more information, please visit www.nuh.com.sg Terms Chinese Translations National University Hospital 国大医院 Professor Krishnakumar Madhavan Co-director National University Centre for Organ Transplantation National University Hospital Professor Quak Seng Hock Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition National University Hospital 同席主任 国大医院器官移植中心 国大医院 郭承福教授 主任兼高级顾问医生, 小儿肠胃肝脏营养科 国大医院