Chiang mai: The Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully performing the first liver transplant between 20-year-old male twins in Thailand, elevating the country’s organ transplantation standards to international levels.

According to Thai News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narend Chotirosniramit, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University, stated that the recipient of the liver transplant is Supawich Songngen, the older twin, who was born with congenital biliary atresia. Despite undergoing surgery in 2005 to address the condition, his liver continued to deteriorate over the past six years, leading to a critical need for a transplant. His younger twin, Supawich Songngen, donated 65 percent of his liver, significantly reducing the risk of organ rejection due to their identical genetic makeup, and eliminating the need for long-term immunosuppressive medication typically required in such procedures.

The success of this liver transplant underscores the exceptional capabilities of the Thai medical team, reaching a level of excellence comparable to international standards. The operation highlights the expertise of the liver, pancreas, and biliary tract surgical team at Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Medicine, who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Thai citizens through sustainable medical advancements.

The Chiang Mai University Faculty of Medicine Center of Excellence in Organ Transplantation has a commendable record, having performed 62 liver transplants. Between 2013 and 2015, the center reported a 95% one-year survival rate, matching data from the United States and Korea. The incidence of complications such as bile duct stenosis or leakage was minimal at 11%, and no cases of arterial occlusion were recorded. Furthermore, all laparoscopic donor transplants were successful, with no instances of liver failure, and patients experienced a median hospital stay of just six days.