Greek Teen in Race Against Time for Liver Transplant in Italy After Heatstroke

A 15-year-old Greek boy, Dimitris, is fighting for his life in an Italian hospital, awaiting an urgent liver transplant following severe heatstroke suffered during Greece's intense heatwave last Friday. His case is critically complicated by a rare pre-existing condition called anhidrosis, which prevents his body from sweating, leading to acute liver failure.

According to the original report by TO VIMA, Dimitris, from Farsala in central Greece, collapsed while hiking in the mountainous region near Metsovo. He was initially treated at the regional hospital in Ioannina, northwestern Greece, before being transferred to the ICU in Patras. Due to the extreme urgency of his condition and the need for a transplant, he was subsequently airlifted to a specialized hospital in Turin, Italy.

Doctors have issued a stark warning: Dimitris has approximately 48 hours to receive a compatible liver transplant. He is currently dependent on mechanical support and holds the top position on both the Greek and Italian liver transplant waiting lists.

Medical teams from both countries have conferred, discussing the drastic measure of a dual transplant should a perfectly compatible donor not be found within the critical window. This contingency plan would involve first transplanting an incompatible liver to stabilize Dimitris while continuing the search for a compatible organ under intensive care.

Dr. Andreas Iliadis, head of the Pediatric ICU at Rio Hospital in Greece, who oversaw Dimitris's initial care, emphasized the desperate nature of the situation to Greek media, including ERT. "Now comes the hard part," Dr. Iliadis stated. "That’s why I’m speaking to you today — to remind everyone how important and timely the issue of organ donation is. The organ we are desperately searching for to save young Dimitris is a liver."

He explained the tragic reality underpinning the search: "For a liver to become available, sadly, someone must be declared brain-dead — in other words, must have passed away." Acknowledging the increased chances in Italy due to its larger population, Dr. Iliadis added, "Italy... has placed Dimitris at the top of its priority list."

Expressing cautious hope, Dr. Iliadis concluded: “I want to believe that Dimitris will return strong and smiling. It’s a promise we’ve all made to his family.”