Liver transplant on 12 year-old carried out successfully

SANTIAGO.- Just after 7:00 AM this morning, Diego Poblete, the boy who has been awaiting a liver donor since March 12th, received the transplanted organ in an extended surgery that ended successfully.

"Up until this point, we can talk about a successful transplant", affirmed the director of the hospital Calvo Mackenna, Dr. Osvaldo Artaza, with respect to the seven-hour-long operation that was made possible thanks to family members of donor Rodrigo Chaparro, age 21, who died after being hit by a car in Antofogasta.

At present, Artaza explained that "the greatest risk is that he will hemorrhage, that is the complication that we most fear over the next few hours, and then come all of the other possible risks of infection and metabolic problems".

When asked about the potential rejection of the organ, the specialist affirmed that the next 48 hours will be crucial in monitoring the boy's health. Regardless, the doctor expressed that he is expecting a positive outcome.