Over 70 liver transplants were performed in the Republic of Moldova so far, including from a donor following brainstem death, from a living donor and pediatric liver transplantation. Owing to the pandemic, only two such surgeries were completed last year, but this year specialists intend to perform at least one liver transplant a month. The first transplant was performed in January.

Contacted by IPN for details, the head of Surgery Department No. 2 of “Nicolae Testemiţanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy”, professor Adrian Hotineanu said that before the pandemic, Moldova had very good statistics and the waiting list of persons who needed liver transplant was covered. But the pandemic stopped the process. The intensive care units were filled by persons with COVID-19.

The last surgery last year was performed in December, while the first one this year – in January. A son-mother liver transplant was planned for this week. The professor said the surgeries to transplant liver from living donors are much more difficult. Even so, there are many couples that already scheduled such operations. The transplantation of liver from a living donor is very difficult and risky surgery as it actually consists of two operations: taking of a part of the liver that is to be transplanted from the donor and the transplantation itself. A number of specialists are involved in the process and they permanently work with these patients.

“Liver transplant is surgery to remove the part of the liver that is not functioning – liver failure – and to replace this with healthy liver from a donor following brainstem death or from a living donor. This is considered the most complex and difficult surgery in general surgery, which lasts for 6-10 hours,” said Adrian Hotineanu. To decide if liver transplant is a suitable option for the patient, a series of examinations are performed as not all the patients are eligible for transplant.