Organ Transplant Swap Treatment in Turkey
About Organ Transplant Swap
Key Highlights
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Overcomes donor-recipient blood type or antibody incompatibility.Expands the donor pool, reducing waiting times for a transplant.Enables transplants for patients who would otherwise have no compatible living donor.Performed simultaneously in a coordinated effort at a specialized transplant center.Utilizes healthy, willing living donors to save multiple lives.
Who is this surgery for?
- End-stage liver disease (ESLD) from causes like cirrhosis, hepatitis, or genetic disorders.
- A willing living donor who is medically suitable but incompatible (e.g., blood type mismatch) with their intended recipient.
- Presence of high levels of pre-formed antibodies in the recipient against the donor's tissue.
- The patient is on the transplant waiting list but faces a long wait for a deceased donor organ.
- Failure of other liver disease treatments and meeting general criteria for liver transplantation.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive medical evaluation of all donors and recipients, including blood tests, imaging, and cardiac/pulmonary assessments.
- Psychological and social work evaluations to ensure donor voluntarism and recipient support.
- Cross-matching and sophisticated tissue typing to confirm new pair compatibility.
- Detailed surgical planning and scheduling for simultaneous operations.
- Pre-operative counseling, fasting, and medication adjustments as directed by the transplant team.
Risks & possible complications
- Standard surgical risks: bleeding, infection, blood clots, and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
- Risks for the donor: bile leak, liver function changes, and rare but serious complications from hepatectomy.
- Risks for the recipient: organ rejection, biliary complications, and vascular issues.
- Risk of primary non-function (the new liver does not work initially).
- Long-term need for immunosuppressant medications and their associated side effects (infections, kidney issues, diabetes).
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in the ICU followed by a transplant ward, with close monitoring of liver function.
- Recipients start immunosuppressant medications immediately to prevent rejection.
- Donors typically have a shorter hospital stay but require several weeks to recover fully.
- Regular follow-up visits for blood tests, imaging, and medication level checks.
- Gradual return to normal activities, with a focus on nutrition, infection prevention, and adherence to the lifelong medication regimen.
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Typical hospital stay:
14-21 days for recipient; 7-10 days for donor
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Expected recovery time:
3-6 months for full recovery (recipient); 2-3 months (donor)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering organ transplant swap in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for organ transplant swap in Turkey include Liv Hospital Ankara, Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, VM Medical Park Pendik Hastanesi, Medical Park Florya, Medical Park Bahçelievler, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform organ transplant swap. MediFyr helps you compare liver transplant specialists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for organ transplant swap compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | USD 27,529 – USD 49,553 | 14-21 days for recipient; 7-10 days for donor | ~ 3-6 months for full recovery (recipient); 2-3 months (donor) | Know More |
| Turkey | USD 204,891 – USD 368,803 | 14-21 days for recipient; 7-10 days for donor | ~ 3-6 months for full recovery (recipient); 2-3 months (donor) | Know More |
Top hospitals for Organ Transplant Swap in Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated liver transplantation teams and experience managing patients undergoing organ transplant swap.
Instabul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Emma Verma, a 42-year-old high school...
Emma Verma, a 42-year-old high school biology teacher and mother of two, had her life upended by Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). For three years, she battled relentless fatigue, intense itching, and recurring jaundice that made her feel self-conscious in front of her students. Her condition deteriorated to the point of end-stage liver disease. Her hepatologist, Dr. Chen, explained that a standard deceased-donor transplant could take years, but she was a perfect candidate for a paired kidney-pancreas swap program. Her husband, Raj, was willing to donate part of his liver, but was not a match for her. Through the swap program, Raj donated to a stranger, and in return, Emma received a compatible segment from another altruistic donor's family member. The surgery was long and complex. Post-procedure, Emma faced a difficult recovery with initial complications of bile leakage, requiring a temporary stent. However, after three months of dedicated rehabilitation, her new liver began to function beautifully. The profound fatigue lifted, and her skin cleared. Emotionally, she journeyed from a place of despair and guilt over burdening her family to immense gratitude. She now speaks to support groups, in awe of the chain of generosity that saved her life, calling it 'a miracle of human connection.'