Landing the Space Shuttle in Erbil, Iraq
I’ve heard it described before that if a “normal” Liver Transplant is like flying a 747, then a Live Donor Liver Transplant is like flying the Space Shuttle.
Just a small fraction of the supplies and equipment necessary
Problem
Liver Transplantation is… complicated. In the vast majority of cases, the transplanted organ comes from a deceased donor. When you live in an Islamic society, this isn’t an option as removing organs from the dead is not permitted by their beliefs.
The only viable option that is respectful to Islamic tradition is Live Donor Liver Transplantation, where a portion of a healthy person’s liver is removed and transplanted to replace the organ of the sick patient.
Live Donor Liver Transplant is extraordinarily complicated, not just as a procedure, but also in the resources and infrastructure necessary to perform it successfully. In the United States, only about 5% of Liver Transplant centers perform more than 10 live donor procedures in a year. Establishing and maintaining this level of care in such a unique setting as Iraq was a monumental challenge, but it was also the only option available to bring hope to patients there suffering from Liver failure.
The team performs a liver transplant recipient procedure (Reed in foreground)
Approach
Over the course of several years, a team of highly trained Transplant specialists representing many different disciplines traveled to Erbil, Iraq to perform transplants, train staff, and advise on the construction of a new hospital to support this program.
We worked with Doctors, Nurses, Technicians, government entities, diplomats, hospital administrators, and numerous other specialists in supply chain, international logistics, and public policy.
The goal was not just to perform the procedures in Iraq, or to teach them to perform the procedures, the objective was to build the system to support every function necessary for the long-term success and maintenance of Live Donor Liver Transplant as a viable treatment option for the people of Iraq.
Two Iraqi physicians consult each other during surgery
Results
After several years, the Iraqi Liver transplant program in Erbil continues to operate successfully, having performed dozens of procedures.
A new generation of Doctors and Nurses, and an army of specialists from every supporting function have been trained to operate independently and continue to grow and develop, ensuring the longevity of this program.