OU Health Completes Oklahoma’s First Liver Transplant for Rare Bile Duct Cancer: Expanding Local Treatment Options

OU Health recently completed Oklahoma’s first liver transplant to treat a rare and aggressive form of bile duct cancer known as hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This new service is significant as it provides local options for patients who would otherwise have to leave the state for treatment.

Dr. Narendra Battula, a transplant surgeon at OU Health, emphasized the importance of careful planning for the operation, which involves factors like donor organ availability and the patient’s ability to take anti-rejection medication post-transplant. Currently, there are only about 20 programs in the country that offer transplantation for cholangiocarcinoma, making it difficult for patients to receive surgical treatment.

The patient who received the liver transplant at OU Health was initially going to have a portion of her liver removed due to cancer. However, the cancer had spread significantly, making it necessary for her to undergo a transplant. Thankfully, she was matched with a donor shortly after being added to the donor database and underwent the transplant successfully, with no complications. Dr. Battula noted that the patient has been recovering well and has shown promising signs of improvement.

This new service will significantly improve the chances of survival for eligible Oklahomans who were previously unable to receive local surgical treatment due to limited options available in their state. The success of this liver transplant is a testament to OU Health’s commitment to providing high-quality care locally and improving accessibility to life-saving services for those in need.

Dr. Battula expressed his satisfaction with OU Health’s ability to offer local transplant options to Oklahomans, as this significantly improves their chances of survival. He emphasized the importance of timely treatment for this serious disease and praised the cancer center for providing this life-saving service locally rather than having to refer patients out of state.

In conclusion, OU Health’s recent completion of Oklahoma’s first liver transplant is a significant milestone in treating rare forms of bile duct cancer such as hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This new service will provide local options for patients who would otherwise have had limited accessibility due to limited surgical treatment options available in their state. With careful planning and commitment from healthcare providers like Dr. Battula at OU Health, patients can now receive life-saving treatments without having