A 20 year old man has undergone a life-saving liver transplant from his identical twin brother, marking the first such procedure ever performed in Thailand, doctors at Chiang Mai University have confirmed.
The patient, Suphawit Songngern, was born with biliary atresia, a rare condition causing blockage of the bile ducts. He underwent a Kasai procedure in 2005, which helped prolong his liver function, but over the past six years his condition steadily deteriorated, leading to repeated hospital admissions and a high risk of liver failure. Doctors determined that a transplant was the only viable option.
His twin brother, Supphich Songngern, also 20, volunteered as a living donor, giving 65% of his liver volume.
Doctors say the case is medically exceptional because the brothers are identical twins, sharing the same genetic profile. This results in near-perfect organ compatibility and a dramatically reduced risk of organ rejection — meaning the recipient will not require long-term immunosuppressive medication, unlike most liver transplant patients.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sannawit Chanrungsee, a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon at Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Medicine and the lead surgeon on the case, said the operation took more than nine hours and involved complex planning, assessment, and post-operative care.
He noted that most liver transplants in Thailand involve organs from brain-dead donors. Chiang Mai University’s Organ Transplant Center remains the only facility in the country performing living-donor liver transplants in adults.
Medical teams waited for the right moment when both twins were physically ready, ensuring the donor could give a safe liver volume while minimising risk. Although identical twins face far lower chances of rejection, doctors will continue to monitor long-term liver function and watch for complications.
Dr. Sannawit said the successful procedure is a point of pride for the entire surgical, anaesthetic and nursing team, describing it as a milestone that demonstrates Thailand’s ability to perform highly complex international-standard surgery.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Worakit Lapvipat, deputy director of the Organ Transplant Center, added that the centre has now completed 62 liver transplants. Recipient outcomes between 2023 and 2025 have been particularly strong, with a one-year survival rate of 95% — comparable to data from the United States and South Korea. Rates of bile duct complications were just 11%, and no arterial blockages were recorded. All donor surgeries were completed successfully via laparoscopy, with no cases of donor liver failure and an average hospital stay of six days.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narent Chotirasniramit, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, said the results show that the university’s liver-surgery team matches global standards, and the identical-twin transplant reflects Thailand’s growing expertise in advanced medical care.
He added that the faculty remains committed to innovation and long-term development “to become a medical school that serves the nation and strengthens the wellbeing of Thai people”.
