World's First Live Lung and Liver Transplant Performed in Kyoto University Hospital, Japan

By Nishu NegiReviewed by Dr. Ankita Wadhwa

Kyoto University Hospital has performed the world's first simultaneous lung and liver transplant from living donors.

Kyoto University Hospital has performed the world's first simultaneous lung and liver transplant from living donors.
A boy under the age of 10 was diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita, a genetic disorder.
He developed aplastic anemia at the age of 2 and received a bone marrow transplant (BMT) from his sister at the age of 4.
Later, he developed liver cirrhosis and also a condition in which the arteries and veins of his lungs were connected, making him unable to take in oxygen.
He, therefore, needed both lung and liver transplants.
He received part of his parents' lungs and part of his grandfather's liver.
The surgery took more than 18 hours, using four operating rooms.
The boy could walk without an oxygen tank two and a half months later.
Outside of Japan, at least 20 cases of simultaneous lung and liver transplant surgery involving brain-dead donors have been performed, but this is the world's first case of simultaneous lung and liver transplant to be conducted with living donors.

Source: The Japan Times, NHK World Japan

Written by

Nishu Negi

Vaidam Health · Updated 25 Sept 2026

A microbiologist by education, Nishu Negi clearly understands scientific/healthcare concepts and ideas. She is a creative content writer passionate about innovative concepts and expresses these with clarity in her writing. She enjoys writing blog posts and articles in a way that the target audience understands them.

Content meets the Vaidam Policy and is medically reviewed

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Ankita Wadhwa