Man survives 'double-decker' transplant

Mr Spensley, left, thanked consultant surgeon David Talbot

A transplant patient who received two kidneys instead of one in Britain's first "double-decker" organ swap, is recovering from the surgery.

Surgeons in Newcastle gave Ken Spensley, 44, of Middlesbrough, two kidneys instead of the usual one during a six-hour operation a month ago.

In the first operation of its kind in the UK, the former publican was fitted with the two transplanted organs on the right-hand side of his abdomen, rather than one on each side.

Consultant surgeon David Talbot, from Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, said this meant Mr Spensley's left-hand side was free should he need a further transplant later in life.

The former publican's two original failing organs were left in his body, meaning he has four kidneys.

After suffering kidney failure, he went on dialysis for 15 hours a week as he waited for a suitable transplant.

I have wanted to do this for a long time, the situation has never arisen until now, so I was pleased when the opportunity occurred Consultant surgeon David Talbot

In the past year Mr Spensley lost five stone and had to restrict himself to just one litre of fluid a day.

He had to watch his diet as his body was unable to process waste properly.

Bananas, chocolates, coffee and chips were strictly limited and he said most of his meals were bland.

Mr Spensley said: "I am just looking forward to getting back to normal.

"Going to the gym, going jogging and maybe a plate of chips."

More donors

His surgeon was pleased with the pioneering operation, which he performed on December 21.

The procedure of transplanting two adult organs to one side of the body has been carried out about a dozen times in the United States, but Mr Talbot believed this was a first in Britain.

He said: "I have wanted to do this for a long time, the situation has never arisen until now, so I was pleased when the opportunity occurred.

"Commonly, transplanted kidneys sleep for a while, they do absolutely nothing while they are recovering from the whole ordeal, until one day they start to work.

"In this case, they started to work much faster than a single kidney."

Both Mr Spensley and Mr Talbot appealed for more organ donors to come forward.