Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was doing well after she underwent a successful five-hour liver transplant due to long-term liver disease, said Professor Jeff Wing on Thursday morning.
”The were no complications during the operation, none whatsoever,” said Wing, head of the department of medicine at the Johannesburg hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand.
The transplant was carried out at the Donald Gordon Medi-Clinic medical centre on Wednesday.
Wing said the hospital conducted one to two liver transplants each month.
He said organs such as livers, kidneys and hearts were taken from donors who had indicated their wish to donate their organs while they were alive.
The cost of the operation is expected to be borne by medical aid and the state.
Wing would not reveal the costs of the organs or the operation and said the costs were sent to the medical aid and that the state might authorise payment for the transplantation.
”There is a standard surgeon fee, but in the case of the minister the operation was conducted by state surgeons.”
Tshabalala-Msimang is expected to be in hospital for a ”least a month” followed by a recuperation period, Wing said.
The minister was diagnosed with auto-immune hepatitis, associated with severe portal hypertension, after she was re-admitted to the Johannesburg Hospital last month.
Wing said the disease was ”long-term” and involved the body’s immune system attacking the liver cells, leading to unresolved inflammation of the liver.
”This can result in damage to the portal venous drainage system leading to frequent internal bleeding and liver failure,” said Wing in a statement on Wednesday.
”Liver transplantation is an effective and essential procedure under these circumstances.”
Tshabalala-Msimang required continuous in-patient treatment and monitoring to achieve stability prior to the operation.
Tshabalala-Msimang was re-admitted to hospital on February 20 where she underwent ”extensive investigation” for evident anaemia and fluid on the lungs.
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe is acting as health minister while Tshabalala-Msimang is ill. – Sapa