Ex-Iraqi Air Marshal gets new lease of life

An Air Marshal during Saddam Hussein's reign, 63-year-old Iraqi national Abdul Karim Darvesh recently got a new lease of life after doctors here carried out a liver transplant on him.
Darvesh was diagnosed with liver cancer some months ago in Iraq. His family had almost given up hope when they came to know about the transplant facilities in India.
"Darvesh's CT scan confirmed that he was harbouring a cancer along with cirrhosis of liver. This required immediate liver transplant surgery," Dr Sanjay Singh Negi, Director HPB (Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary) and Liver Transplantation Surgery from BLK Super Speciality Hospital.
While Darvesh needed a donor, his eldest son Anmar Abdul Karim, came forward and was evaluated for liver donation.

After an in-depth examination, it was ascertained that he was suitable to donate part of his liver. Clearances from concerned medical specialities were taken and Anmar underwent the donor surgical procedure.
"The surgery lasted for about 22 hours during which a team of seven doctors worked in shifts. The surgery involved taking out the right lobe of the liver from the donor and implanting it to the recipient," said Dr Negi.
Such surgeries are associated with risks such as bleeding, rejection of the liver by the recipient and even death. A thorough investigation is thus necessary keeping in mind the risk factors of the donor and the recipient, said Dr Negi.

Post operation, both the father and son are having a smooth recovery, doctors said.