UAE doctors save 5-month-old in historic liver transplant

Burjeel Medical City (BMC) has performed the UAE’s youngest infant liver transplant, saving five-month-old Ahmed Yahya, who was battling an ultra-rare genetic condition with fewer than 25 known cases worldwide.

The life-saving surgery was made possible through a liver donation from his aunt, marking a milestone in the region’s pediatric transplant history, WAM reported.

Ahmed, weighing just 4.4 kilograms, was diagnosed with ATP6AP1-related congenital disorder of glycosylation, a severe multi-system disease rapidly leading to liver failure. His condition echoed the tragic loss of his parents’ first son to liver disease in 2010. Faced with the urgent need for a living donor, hope came from within the family — his aunt, the wife of his father’s brother, was found to be a perfect match and volunteered to donate.

On April 4, 2025, a multidisciplinary BMC team led by Dr Gourab Sen and Dr Johns Shaji Mathew performed a complex 12-hour surgery, preparing a mono-segment graft to fit the infant’s tiny anatomy, with vessels thinner than a matchstick.

The procedure required extreme precision, involving pediatric anesthesiologists, intensive care specialists, and transplant experts working in perfect synchronization.

Despite the high risk, Ahmed recovered quickly - breathing on his own soon after, feeding within days, and showing excellent liver function. His ongoing care includes nutritional support, immune monitoring, and neurodevelopmental assessments.

BMC doctors say the case stands out not only for the patient’s age and size, but also for the rarity of the condition and the global scarcity of successful transplants in such circumstances.

As the family celebrates World Organ Donation Day, Ahmed’s father, Yahya, expressed gratitude for the medical team and his sister-in-law’s sacrifice, urging others to consider organ donation.