India’s First Paediatric Liver Transplant for PFIC 13 Saves 8-Year-Old’s Life at Rainbow Children’s Hospital Chennai
Chennai, 24th September 2025 – Rainbow Children’s Hospital, a leader in pediatric multi-specialty and perinatal care, has made history by performing India’s first live pediatric liver transplant for Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 13 (PFIC 13). This groundbreaking procedure took place at the hospital’s Center of Excellence for Pediatric Liver Transplant on an eight-year-old boy from Thoothukkudi. In addition to this pioneering surgery, the medical team successfully completed two other rare pediatric liver transplants on infants under one year, further cementing Rainbow’s reputation as a leader in advanced pediatric liver care in India.
The historic surgeries were made possible by Rainbow’s team of highly experienced pediatric liver specialists and cutting-edge transplant facilities. Led by Dr. Mettu Srinivas Reddy, Lead Transplant Surgeon, and Dr. Somashekar, Senior Consultant Pediatric Hepatologist, the team included Dr. Prasanna Gopal, Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Karthik Narayanan and Dr. Nataraj Palaniappan, Senior Consultants in Pediatric Intensive Care, as well as Dr. Keerthivasan, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology. The multidisciplinary team was supported by Dr. Sathish Chander, Head of Anesthesiology, alongside skilled nursing staff and dedicated transplant coordinators. This collaboration ensured the expert and meticulous care needed for these complex pediatric liver transplants.
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The first-of-its-kind surgery in India was performed on an eight-year-old boy from Thoothukkudi, diagnosed with PFIC 13, an incredibly rare inherited liver disorder with fewer than 8 known cases globally. Thanks to a timely partial organ donation from his mother, the child is now healthy and back at school. Similarly, a seven-month-old infant from Pondicherry underwent an 11-hour transplant surgery after her father underwent a rapid and significant weight loss of 9 kg to qualify as a living donor. Lastly, a five-month-old baby from West Bengal, born with Biliary Atresia, was given a new lease on life following a 14-hour transplant surgery, with his mother donating a portion of her liver.
Dr. Somashekar, Senior Consultant Pediatric Hepatologist, commented, “Pediatric liver transplants are both challenging and critical. With our expertise and advanced infrastructure at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, we’ve successfully treated three rare liver disorders. Seeing these children given a second chance at life, thanks to the incredible selflessness of their parents, is profoundly fulfilling. These successes reaffirm Rainbow’s commitment to providing world-class pediatric liver care with compassion, precision, and expertise.”
The Center of Excellence for Pediatric Liver Transplant at Rainbow Children’s Hospital is equipped with dedicated pediatric liver ICUs, modular operation theaters, advanced diagnostic systems, infection-controlled transplant wards, and 24/7 multi-specialty support teams. By integrating global best practices with advanced technologies such as high-end anesthesia systems, precision surgical tools, and child-friendly facilities, the hospital ensures safety, precision, and compassionate care for its youngest patients.
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