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Elizabeth Cheung

Emily Tsang

A dying mother whose life was saved by a liver transplant last week after a desperate search for a donor was back in the operating room on Thursday for a second transplant to ensure her survival.
Tang Kwai-sze, 43, was thrown a last-minute lifeline last week after a 26-year-old woman came forward in response to an appeal from Tang’s 17-year-old daughter, Michelle, who had wanted to donate her own organ but was three months shy of the legal age.
That operation saw Tang receive two-thirds of a liver from a stranger, Momo Cheng, who is a clerk.
Tang had been in critical condition since the first transplantation and the doctor had to perform a second round of surgery to unblock a blood vessel.
However, the new liver did not function well and Tang had to undergo another five-hour transplant operation to receive a liver donated by a patient who died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon.
She was in a stable condition but not yet out of danger on Thursday night.
Head of surgery Professor Lo Chung-mau said Tang had been awake and responded to doctors by opening her eyes or nodding her head on Wednesday, but another liver transplant was needed as her recovery was too slow.
“She might need three to four weeks to get her liver fully functioning again, but we were worried that if she needed such a long time to recover, more severe complications might surface,” Lo said. He added that Tang had already suffered multiple organ failure and required dialysis treatment for her kidneys.
Tang’s daughter, Michelle, said she was grateful for two “miracles” provided by both liver donors.
Cheng, meanwhile, has recovered satisfactorily and was discharged from hospital on Thursday night.
Lo said about 3 per cent of 1,300 liver transplants performed by the Queen Mary team required a second transplant, while the rate was about 10 to 15 per cent in other countries.
Overseas studies suggest living-donor liver transplants are less likely to succeed as the donor can only give away a partial graft, compared with a full organ from a dead donor.


Hong Kong mother brought back from brink by liver donation has second transplant

Tang Kwai-sze (left) with her daughter Michelle (right). Photo: Handout

Momo Cheng, leaves operating room at Queen Mary Hospital, Momo Cheng, 26-year-old clerk who donated part of her liver to Tang Kwai-sze. 13APR17 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Michelle, the daughter of patient Tang Kwai-sze meets the media at Queen Mary Hospital after the operation of liver transplant. 14APR17 SCMP / Felix Wong

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Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Tang Kwai-sze back in the operating room after recovering too slowly from first procedure


Hong Kong mother brought back from brink by liver donation has second transplant

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tang Kwai-sze back in the operating room after recovering too slowly from first procedure

Tang Kwai-sze back in the operating room after recovering too slowly from first procedure