First Australian intestinal transplant

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJul 4 2010

Mr. Brendan Cole, 32 became the first recipient of a successful intestinal transplant in Australia. Last Friday he had his intestines and organs removed from his abdomen that followed a 12 hour operation at Austin Health.

According to head surgeon Bob Jones, who was leading a 20 member surgical team for the operation, it was a very risky operation where Mr. Cole received a new pancreas, liver, small intestine and duodenum (the section of the small intestine closest to the stomach). Jones was assisted by English transplant surgeon Darius Mirza. An obviously excited Jones said, this operation was “the last frontier in organ replacement.” “Australia needs this, we've needed it for a long time,” he said. He explained that till now people needing this operation had to travel abroad to at least 62 others countries where this was offered. He said six to 10 patients a year would now receive the surgery in Australia.

There are also plans underway to run Australia's first intestine transplant program for children. Julie Bines, a gastroenterologist at the Royal Children's Hospital who will be heading the program said one child at the hospital died every year from complications of bowel failure and some children had been on intravenous drips for years, waiting for a transplant.

As for the happy Mr. Cole and his fiancée of four years, Kirrily Dougherty nothing could have made them happier. According to attending physician Adam Testro, Mr. Cole had digestive problems since he was young. He could not get nutrition from food and spent 13 years with a tube in his arm. Professor Jones said: “It's one of the most miserable existences you could have.” Mr. Cole would not have survived over two years if a suitable donor was not found and this operation had not taken place. The couple will be able to marry now.

The operation, according to the doctors went smoothly and after recovery Mr. Cole will have a T-shaped scar. He will receive nutrition through a tube for the next five weeks as his body adjusts to his new bowel and hopefully he will then slowly move onto fluids and solid food.

The operation was funded by the Victorian government and the costs between$300,000 and $400,000 appear to be a bargain because it cost about $120,000 each year just to keep Mr. Cole alive.