Pictures courtesy of Daily News

 

Doctors at Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Medicine successfully performed a liver transplant between 20-year-old identical twin brothers, marking the first such case in Thailand. The procedure involved Supawit Songngern donating part of his liver to his older twin, Supapich Songngern, who suffered from congenital biliary atresia. The operation is hailed as a milestone in Thai medical history.

 

Supapich had undergone a Kasai procedure in 2005, to bypass blocked bile ducts, which extended his liver function but has led to gradual complications over the past six years. His deteriorating liver function indicated the need for a transplant. Supawit volunteered to donate 65% of his liver, a living-donor transplant made uniquely compatible by their identical genetics, significantly reducing the risk of organ rejection and eliminating the need for long-term immunosuppressive medication.

 

Associate Professor Sanhawit Janrangsee, a lead surgeon in the operation, said the procedure posed high technical challenges, from surgical planning to donor and recipient evaluation. Unlike most liver transplants in Thailand, typically from brain-dead donors, this transplant used a living donor, necessitating careful timing and planning to ensure the safety of both twins and minimise complications. The identical twin status provided near-perfect histocompatibility, further enhancing the success prospects.

 

Associate Professor Worakitti Lapphisapapun, deputy director of the Organ Transplant Center, noted that the centre has previously completed 62 liver transplants, achieving a one-year recipient survival rate of 95%, comparable to US and Korean data. Donor outcomes have been excellent, with no cases of liver failure and an average hospital stay of six days. These results underscore the high standard of care and surgical expertise at Chiang Mai University.

 

The Daily News reported that Dean Narenthorn Chotirosonnimit emphasised that the twin transplant demonstrates the team’s capability in complex surgeries at an international level. The operation not only saved a life but also represents a landmark in Thai medical innovation and the continued development of healthcare excellence in the country.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• 20-year-old Supawit donated 65% of his liver to his twin, Supapich, in Thailand’s first identical twin liver transplant.

• The genetic match of identical twins eliminated the need for long-term immunosuppressive drugs.

• Chiang Mai University’s Organ Transplant Center has a strong track record, achieving 95% one-year survival in prior transplants.

 

 

 Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Dailynews  2025-11-20

 

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

20-year-old Supawit donated 65% of his liver to his twin, Supapich, in Thailand’s first identical twin liver transplant.

 

What a marvellous humane gesture to help his twin brother.

 

For reference (Google), this young man's healthy liver will regenerate:-

 

The liver is unique among human organs for this ability and can regrow to its original size, sometimes even after up to 90% has been removed.