16.06.2026 10:01
The world's first 8-way cross liver transplant was successfully completed with 16 simultaneous surgeries performed at İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center. After the operation that lasted approximately 22 hours, it was announced that the health status of 8 donors and 8 recipients is good. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu congratulated the medical team that achieved this success, emphasizing that the operation is a first in medical history.
İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center Liver Transplantation Institute achieved a historic success in the field of organ transplantation. Within the scope of the cross-transplantation system applied for patients awaiting liver transplants who do not have suitable donors, the world's first 8-way cross liver transplant was performed.
8 donors and 8 recipients from different families participated in the operation. The transplants were successfully completed following 16 surgeries performed simultaneously. It was reported that the health conditions of all patients were good after the operation, which lasted approximately 22 hours.
16 SURGERIES PERFORMED SIMULTANEOUSLY
Prof. Dr. Sezai Yılmaz, Director of the Liver Transplantation Institute, stated that cross liver transplants have been performed at the center since 2021, and noted that pairwise, triple, quadruple, quintuple, sextuple, and septuple cross transplants have also been successfully carried out.
Yılmaz said, "Thanks to the model we developed with two Turkish academics working in Boston, we are implementing multi-way cross liver transplants. We continue to be one of the centers leading the world in this field."
8-WAY MODEL APPLIED FOR CRITICAL PATIENTS
Yılmaz, stating that the cross-transplantation system enables patients with incompatible donors to receive transplants through appropriate matching, expressed that the conditions of some patients waiting in the pool had recently become critical.
Yılmaz spoke, saying, "One of our patients was about to enter a liver coma. Since a suitable match was only possible with the 8-way model, we had to perform this operation."
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu also celebrated the success in a post on his social media account.
Memişoğlu stated, "Our professor Dr. Sezai Yılmaz and his valuable team achieved a world first with the 8-way cross liver transplant. We are proud of our Turkish physicians."