Woman, Fetus Doing Well After Rare Liver Transplant Surgery

A woman and her fetus were doing well Friday as she recuperated from a liver transplant at UCLA Medical Center, a surgery that doctors said has rarely been performed on a pregnant patient.

Paula Severseike, who is 20 weeks pregnant, is believed to be only the fourth woman to undergo liver transplant surgery during pregnancy.

The surgery, which lasted five hours, was performed July 1, said Dr. Ronald Busuttil, director of UCLA’s liver transplant program.

The 34-year-old San Diego woman needed the transplant because she suddenly developed liver failure, probably due to a viral infection, Busuttil said.

Pregnancy compounds the risks of a transplant because the surgery can cause problems for the fetus, he said.

“In our visit, the mother was very desirous to retain the pregnancy. She had never had a child before and was willing to take that gamble,” he said.

Dr. Khalil Tabsh, chief of obstetrics at UCLA, monitored the fetus during the operation, which lasted five hours.

“All indications are good,” a hospital condition statement said.

Severseike will probably be released from the hospital next week, Busuttil said.