site.btaFirst Liver Transplant in Bulgaria Performed 20 Years Ago

The first liver transplant in Bulgaria was performed 20 years ago on November 18. The recipient was a seven-month-old baby girl named Pamela, and the donor was her 23-year-old father. The life-saving operation was carried out by Massimo Malago, a renowned surgeon from a top-notch clinic in Essen, Germany, and Lyubomir Spasov, director of Sofia’s Lozenets Hospital, where the transplant took place. The infant and her father were discharged from hospital in good condition on December 20, 2004, about a month after the surgery.

BTA covered the transplant and follow-up news in regular reports back at the time. Below is a translation of the BTA dispatch about President Georgi Parvanlov’s visit to the hospital eight days after the surgery.

President Georgi Parvanov Visits 7-Month-Old Pamela at Lozenets Hospital after Liver Transplant

Sofia, November 26, 2004 (BTA) – President Georgi Parvanov visited liver transplant patient Pamela at Lozenets Hospital today. The seven-month-old baby will be among the beneficiaries of this year’s edition of the Bulgarian Christmas charity initiative, with part of the funding going towards medicines and food for her, the President’s Press Secretary Boika Bashlieva said. Parvanov presented little Pamela with toys and fortified Humana, which the infant needs to eat after the surgical operation.

The child is in very good condition, with no signs of rejection of the liver, Lozenets Hospital Director Dr Lyubomir Spasov said. He noted that Pamela will stay in the hospital for another 10 days at least. The baby’s father, who is the liver donor, can be discharged even today, but he wants to stay close to Pamela, Dr Spasov said. After leaving hospital, the girl will receive outpatient care from the Lozenets Hospital. She does not need special treatment but will be brought to the hospital for regular checkups, Dr Spasov said. The Pediatrics Clinic of the Medical University will help monitor her condition.