NZ transplant program a success

May 4, 2004

The Age - Australia

New Zealand's liver transplant program for children was proving more cost-effective and sometimes more successful than those previously performed in Australia.

A team of Auckland doctors that has now performed 12 successful operations told a Perth meeting of anaesthesia experts that up until two years ago youngsters needing transplants had to travel to Australia and the UK.

A study of the operations carried out over the past two years showed every child had survived, and had cost less than when they were performed offshore.

Dr Yatin Young from the Auckland City Hospital told the conference the transplant program had been a huge success, and should be continued.

"This really is a good news story," Dr Yatin said.

"Previously, families had to make the horrible choice of having to leave their home and possibly their job to be with their child while they had the transplant.

"Now it seems that the operations being performed in New Zealand have very comparable, if not better, outcomes than the equivalent in the United States and the UK."

Dr Young said sending patients abroad for transplants had proved traumatic for families and difficult for patients.

"There is anecdotal evidence that children have died in the transfer phase," Dr Yatin said.

The presentation told how 11 children, aged between nine months and 13 years, had received 12 liver transplants between February 2002 and November 2003 - all of whom had survived.

Dr Yatin said two children had required a re-transplant having originally been given transplants in Queensland, one of whom required further re-transplantation within 24 hours.

He also said that analysis had shown that the equivalent procedures performed abroad would have cost more than carrying them out locally