Turin, 14 years old in coma for acute hepatic insufficiency from heat stroke saved with an emergency transplantation

THE’anhydrosis he suffers from It was the trigger of anacute hepatic insufficiency who led him to an emergency transplant. Dimitrios, fourteen of Greek nationality, with one rare congenital disease that does not allow the body to produce sweathas been subjected to a liver transplant, performed in national super-urgency at the City of Health and Science of Turin (CDSS) – Molinette garrison, who saved his life.

The boy was making an excursion with some friends near the city of Ioannina, in Northern Greece. Due to the high environmental temperature, combined with physical effort, the boy’s body temperature came to 42 degreesdetermining loss of the senses and coma.

Stabilized at the Iannina hospital, the boy was sent to the nearest pediatric intensive care, in Patras. Here the doctors had diagnosed one Severe heat -stroke acute hepatic insufficiencywith a state of persistent comaThat It involves liver transplantation as the only solution.

Thanks to a “bridge” between theHellenic Transplant Organization of Athens and the Italian National Transplant Center, The activation of the collaboration protocol With Italy and among the first poles available to transplant, the liver transplant center of the Department of Surgery and Transplants of the City of Health and Science of Turin replied, directed by Professor Renato Romagnoli.

In a very short time, the patient arrived at Turin Caselle airport with a dedicated health flight, assisted by a resuscitator and the mother. Fortunately, on the second day of waiting for the organ, the availability of a donor with compatible blood group and with adequate dimensional and quality characteristics was reported in Piedmont: after less than 60 hours from the arrival in Italy, the Greek boy entered the operating room and was subjected to a life -saving intervention.

Life -saving

The transplant, which lasted 10 hours, He was conducted by Professor Romagnoli with his team, being careful to avoid bleeding and maneuvers that could compromise the stability of the pressure and blood circulation in the boy’s brain. «In cases of patients with a coma from liver failure it is necessary Avoid Midnims of Blood pressureespecially in the brain level, in order not to risk damaging brain cells and altering neurological function. Sudden variations can increase the risk of stroke, vascular dementia and other cognitive disorders, “commented the surgeon.

The intervention succeeded, the functional recovery of the transplanted liver of Dimitrios It was very rapid, and the death for liver failure was completely averted.
“Currently the boy He is amazed, awake and interacts with his family “Romagnoli points out, who adds an optimistic note: “We are very confident and we trust that Dimitrios can be regularly at school for September”.