By Yoon Ja-young
Lee Sang-jun, a 62-year-old male, had a small party at Asan Medical Center in Seoul on Oct. 11. It marked the 20th anniversary since he underwent liver transplantation surgery, and Lee is the longest surviving adult liver transplant patient in Korea.
Back in 1992, Lee was diagnosed with hepatochirrosis. Doctors said that he needed an immediate liver transplant. At first, he considered getting the complicated surgery at a hospital in the United States.
However, at the news of a number of successful liver transplants at Asan Medical Center, he chose the surgery team led by professor Lee Sung-gyu. The country had few organ donations at that time, but Lee was lucky to get a donation from a brain-dead patient. After 23 hours of surgery, Lee started a new life.
Patients who get organ transplants have a long way to go even after successful surgery. They have to receive intensive and systematic care afterward, as there may be side effects such as bleeding and rejection.
Lee therefore regularly visits the medical center for checkups, and continues to lead a healthy life thanks to timely medical treatment when his immunity level fell.
“I deeply thank the medical staff who helped me live healthily for 20 years since the surgery in 1992,” Lee said. He currently heads an association for patients who have had liver transplants.
Professor Lee pointed to Lee as an example for other patients for his strict self-regulation and faithful following of doctors’ advice. “I hope that the country can have more organ donations encouraged to save lives,” he said.
Asan Medical Center has become a hub for liver transplantations, completing 403 successful surgeries in 2011, the larest number in the world. Over 100 doctors from around the world visit the center for training annually.