Adriana, 11 Months Old: Liver Transplant

Each patient’s recovery story is unique. However, clinical cases involving organ transplantation in children during their first year of life require exceptional professional expertise and highly specialized care. In this particular case, the procedure involved transplanting a portion of the liver from a living donor — the child’s father — while receiving treatment outside the family’s country of residence.

An 11-month-old girl named Adriana was diagnosed with a dangerous liver tumor — hepatoblastoma, a malignant disease that could have led to liver failure if left untreated in her hometown. Based on medical recommendations received in Montenegro, Adriana’s family decided to travel to Turkey for treatment at Acıbadem Healthcare Group.

Adriana’s mother recalls that at birth her daughter was clinically healthy and developing normally. However, at a certain point her condition suddenly changed: she became unusually tense, cried frequently, refused to eat, and experienced sleep disturbances. These symptoms marked the beginning of the disease.

“When Adriana was about five months old, we started consulting various specialists and underwent numerous examinations. During an ultrasound examination, doctors detected a pathological process in the liver. We did not have the opportunity to receive the necessary specialized treatment in Montenegro, and the doctors advised us to go to Turkey. Therefore, we decided to travel immediately. The most important thing for us was to save our daughter’s life.”

Choosing the Optimal Treatment Strategy for Adriana

Adriana’s medical records were transferred to specialists at Acıbadem Healthcare Group, where her case was reviewed by a multidisciplinary medical council. The consultation involved surgeons, radiologists, pediatric oncologists, and pediatric gastroenterologists.

Following a comprehensive assessment of Adriana’s condition, the specialists determined that liver transplantation was the only radical treatment option. Although chemotherapy and partial liver resection are often effective in treating hepatoblastoma, Adriana’s case was more complicated. The tumor had completely affected the right lobe of the liver and was connected to major blood vessels. For this reason, the only viable treatment option was removal of the entire liver and transplantation of a donor organ.

At this stage, the main challenge was finding a suitable donor. Fortunately, Adriana’s blood type matched her father’s, and he agreed to become the donor.

Treatment in Turkey at Acıbadem Clinic

During the first stage of treatment, Adriana underwent a course of chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor. At the same time, all necessary preparations for the transplant were carried out. Later, surgeons performed a liver transplant using a portion of her father’s liver.

The surgery was conducted by an extended team of specialists led by Professor Hamdi Karakayalı, Head of the Organ Transplantation Department at Acıbadem Atakent Hospital.

Professor Karakayalı explained after the operation:

“The tumor was very large and had almost completely filled the liver. Along with abdominal pain, the pressure caused by the tumor could have led to many life-threatening complications. Since we removed the tumor together with the diseased liver and replaced it with a healthy one, Adriana can now continue her life as a healthy child. We hope that her condition will continue to improve.”

Liver transplantation is generally a complex procedure, and in children it is even more challenging. When the donor is an adult, the transplanted portion of the liver may be too large for a young child’s abdominal cavity, especially in infants like Adriana. Therefore, the liver must be carefully reduced in size without compromising its structural integrity, damaging blood vessels or bile ducts, and while fully preserving its function.

Acıbadem’s liver transplant team reports a success rate of over 90 percent in similar cases. To date, Professor Hamdi Karakayalı and his colleagues have performed more than 200 such operations on newborns, achieving positive clinical outcomes in the majority of cases.

Ready to Enjoy Life

After overcoming significant challenges and a long medical journey, Adriana and her parents are now preparing to return to their homeland healthy, happy, and full of hope.

Adriana’s mother shared her gratitude:

“Above all, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the Turkish doctors and medical staff. We are very satisfied with the overall experience — everything was exactly as it should have been. I must say that I never once saw fatigue on the faces of the doctors. Adriana’s condition was truly critical, but thanks to them, today she is with us and continues her recovery.

What we look forward to most are the simple things — going to the park, playing games, and having breakfast together as a family without worry. These simple moments mean the most. Today I feel immense joy, because I know that a long and healthy life lies ahead for her.”