Makati Medical Center Makes History with Its First Living Donor Liver Transplant
In a historic feat that marks a new chapter for Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed), the Hospital successfully performed its first-ever living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), a transformative procedure that underscores the power of preparation, surgical excellence, and international collaboration.
This complex 13-hour operation is the culmination of meticulous planning, hands-on training, and global partnerships, particularly with Asan Medical Center (AMC) in South Korea—one of the world’s foremost authorities in liver transplantation. The core team from MakatiMed’s Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Services led this initiative, which included simulation drills, infrastructure upgrades, clinical immersions, and multidisciplinary readiness programs.
“This is a monumental accomplishment for our institution and the Liver Transplantation Team,” said Saturnino P. Javier, MD, MakatiMed Interim Co-President & CEO and Medical Director. “It is also a deeply human story of courage, collaboration, and compassion… and we salute the men and women of MakatiMed and Asan Medical Center for making this possible.”
The recipient, a 23-year-old patient suffering from end-stage liver disease due to recurrent sclerosing cholangitis (inflamed and scarred bile ducts), had previously been admitted several times to the ICU for sepsis. His condition had deteriorated despite maximal conservative management. With no other viable options, he underwent a life-saving transplant, receiving a right liver graft from his mother.
Notably, the donor has a history of abdominal gunshot wound and multiple prior operations, combined with unusual vascular anatomy. This case presented unprecedented challenges for both MakatiMed and AMC. Nonetheless, both surgeries were performed without blood transfusion, and the team kept costs remarkably reasonable despite the complexity—proving that high-quality care and cost-consciousness can co-exist.
“The success of any liver transplant lies in two critical pillars: the safety of the donor and the quality of the graft,” shared Catherine S.C. Teh, MD, Section Chief of Hepatobiliary Surgery and lead liver transplant surgeon at MakatiMed. “This case challenged both, and we rose to the occasion.”
Surgeries on both donor and recipient were executed with precision through the synergy of MakatiMed’s team of surgical, anesthesia, nursing, and critical care specialists with the expert guidance of a 10-member visiting team from Asan Medical Center.
Postoperatively, the patient made a steady recovery under the care of the multidisciplinary team composed of Liver Surgeons, Transplant Nurses, Clinical Nutritionists, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Endocrinology, Pathology, and Radiology specialists. He has since been discharged in stable condition, while the donor was discharged just five days after surgery, a testament to the quality of the care delivered of the Hospital with a Heart.
This milestone not only reflects surgical excellence but reaffirms MakatiMed’s ongoing commitment to innovation, compassion, and patient-centric care. It ushers in a new era in Philippine transplant medicine: one that is bold, inclusive, and globally benchmarked.
