Fatima Abdulkareem, Saleh Al Nahdi along with the team of doctors behind her successful liver transplant. Supplied photo

Doctors at Aster MIMS Calicut performed a successful liver transplant on a Riyadh-based Yemeni national, suffering from end stage liver disease, the first of its kind in North Kerala.

Born with a rare liver disease, 30-year-old Fatima Abdulkareem Saeed Al Nahdi was under treatment from various hospitals in Middle East. She had Budd Chiari syndrome with multiple protein enzyme defects resulting in blockade of major vessels of liver.

Though a stent tube was placed from Saudi Arabia 2 years back, she had multiple medical issues with a poor quality of life. All of that changed, thanks to a liver transplant she received three months back from Aster MIMS Calicut.

She came to know about the liver team at Aster from her brother's Keralite friend through whom they consulted the liver surgeon, Dr Noushif Medappil.

Though travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19 pandemic made things difficult, the MVT team aided a hassle free process. Her brother, Saleh Al Nahdi donated a portion of his liver, through a major surgery to save his beloved sister.

The twelve-hour-long surgery was technically challenging involving removal of the previous stent tube with damaged liver and reconstructing major vessels, said Dr Sajeesh Sahadevan, head of the team.

The surgical team including Dr Noushif, Dr Abishek, Dr Seetha were supported by the hepatology team led by Dr Anish Kumar and liver intensivists Dr Kishore and Dr Rakesh.

"We could put our complete trust and faith in the team. We are thankful to the doctors, nurses and the experienced team at Aster MIMS, Calicut for their timely intervention to get my life back on track again” said Fatima, who is back to Riyadh with her family and was also astonished by the hospitality of Calicut.