One donor, two organs bring new life to two children

Background

Organ donation represents one of the most profound ways a life can continue through others. In pediatric cases, finding size-matched organs is particularly challenging. Hunan Children's Hospital, recognized as the first children's specialty hospital in China to secure dual qualifications for pediatric liver and kidney transplantation, completed a notable procedure in October 2026.

An 8-year-and-4-month-old boy, referred to by the pseudonym Xiao Yu, was diagnosed with biliary atresia at birth. Despite undergoing a Kasai procedure, his condition advanced to end-stage liver disease. He suffered recurrent jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal distension, requiring repeated hospitalizations and conservative treatments. His family, originally from Xiangxi in western Hunan, sought care over an extended period while awaiting a transplant. Separately, a 12-year-old girl known as Xiao He had progressed from chronic renal insufficiency to uremia. The disease restricted her learning, daily activities and growth, with kidney transplantation as the primary means to restore normal development.

What was achieved

On October 7, 2026, medical teams at Hunan Children's Hospital successfully carried out China's first one-donor, two-recipients pediatric liver-kidney transplant at a children's specialty hospital. The liver from a single pediatric donor whose family consented to donation following the child's death was transplanted into Xiao Yu. The kidney from the same donor was transplanted into Xiao He. The organs were matched and allocated through China's national human organ allocation system.

The surgeries were performed concurrently with support from multiple departments. Professor Yin Qiang, director of the First Department of General Surgery, led the liver transplant team. Professor Zu Jiancheng led the urology team for the kidney transplant. Both children recovered well. On the morning of October 29, 2026, Xiao Yu, attending his first post-discharge follow-up examination, visited Xiao He, who was preparing for discharge. He brought a handwritten card and small gifts for their first in-person meeting, creating a quiet, warm moment that connected the two families through the shared donor.

How it works

Pediatric organ transplantation requires precise coordination from donor identification through long-term follow-up. When a potential donor becomes available, consent is obtained from the family. Organs are evaluated, preserved and allocated via the national computerized organ distribution system according to medical compatibility, urgency and other established criteria. Upon match notification, the hospital assembles a multi-disciplinary team including general surgery, urology, anesthesiology, intensive care, nephrology, rheumatology and immunology, laboratory and ultrasound specialists.

In the operating theater, the liver transplant procedure involves removing the recipient's diseased liver, then implanting the donor liver by meticulously connecting the hepatic blood vessels (such as the portal vein, hepatic artery and vena cava) to restore circulation and anastomosing the bile duct for drainage. For the kidney transplant, the donor organ is typically placed in the lower abdomen and connected to the recipient's iliac blood vessels for blood supply and to the bladder for urinary drainage. Post-operatively, patients receive intensive monitoring to manage fluid balance, prevent infection and initiate immunosuppressive medications that must continue long-term to reduce the risk of organ rejection. In this synchronized one-donor case, the approach allowed two children to benefit from one donor, supported by rapid organ transport, preservation techniques and coordinated surgical execution.

What it means for international patients

The procedure demonstrates the hospital's established capabilities in complex pediatric organ transplantation, supported by its status as a National Children's Regional Medical Center and its pioneering dual qualifications for pediatric liver and kidney transplants in China. Hunan Children's Hospital operates an International Medical Department with a dedicated special needs ward providing one-stop services and green channels for international pediatric patients.

Facilities offering such specialized pediatric care may be considered by families seeking advanced treatment options abroad. However, suitability for transplantation programs depends on individual medical assessments, organ availability, regulatory requirements and other factors. International patients or their families should contact the hospital directly to verify current eligibility, application processes, necessary documentation and any specific arrangements for overseas patients.

About the hospital

Hunan Children's Hospital is a tertiary Class A specialized children's hospital located at No. 86 Ziyuan Road, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan Province. It opened on June 1, 1987, and is affiliated with the Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. In 2026 it was designated a National Children's Regional Medical Center, the only such center in the province.

The hospital has approximately 1,800 beds and more than 2,000 staff. It possesses 11 national clinical key specialties and 15 provincial clinical key specialties. It is the first children's hospital in China approved with dual qualifications for pediatric liver and kidney transplantation. It also maintains an International Medical Department serving overseas patients, including those from countries such as Indonesia and Kazakhstan. The hospital has a history of ISO 9001/14001 certification and participates extensively in international pediatric training, having instructed thousands of medical professionals from over 100 countries and regions.