Video: Rare Liver Transplant Saves Two Lives

Doctors Save 2 Lives with Rare Liver Transplant

Updated: Monday, 13 Dec 2010, 6:08 PM MSTPublished : Monday, 13 Dec 2010, 6:08 PM MST
PHOENIX - A rare surgery at Banner Good Samaritan goes well - resulting in two lives being saved.

Jesus Mariscal of Tucson was the recipient of a new liver. His old one had a rare genetic disease which could cause heart failure.
"We are taking an organ out although it is functional and good will still have the disease," said Dr Jefferey Brink "Essentially what we are doing is preserving his liver and reconstructing it so we can put it into the next patient."

Talking with the help of translator, Mariscal says he is happy he got a second chance.
"I was sad at first because I had to wait for a donor, then just to be on the waiting list for a long time I prayed to God a lot..I prayed to God to give me a second chance to live," he said.
Surgeons had to do what is called a Domino transplant, where his liver was put into another patient and he received a new liver from an organ donor.

"It's very rare mainly because it's very technical the level of difficulty is around 10 as opposed to a regular liver transplant which is around 5," said Brink.

This was all possible because the coordination of several surgeons, doctors, nurses and staff. The hospital says that both patients are doing well following their transplants.