Family funds pioneering device to detect liver disease at Southampton Children's Hospital

A SPECIALIST probe that can determine if a child is developing liver disease is now being used at Southampton Children’s Hospital, thanks to the fundraising efforts of a Hampshire family.

The pioneering device, called a FibroScan, allows doctors to gauge the health of a liver by testing for scarring – which helps identify if a patient is developing early-stage liver disease or more advanced forms, including cirrhosis.

Although the equipment is already in use for adults being treated for liver disease at University Hospital Southampton, a smaller probe is required for youngsters. Until now they have instead had to undergo an invasive biopsy under general anaesthetic, or travel to London, where the FibroScan is in use.

But thanks to the fundraising efforts of a local family and Southampton Hospitals Charity, the hi-tech piece of kit costing £9,750, has now been bought and is already in use for children.

Dana Fry raised and donated the money for the FibroScan after her daughter Mylah, who was born with a rare liver disease and was a regular inpatient at Southampton Children’s Hospital, sadly passed away following complications in 2018, at the age of 18 months.

Dana, 27, said: “Dr Afzal and his team were amazing throughout Mylah’s short life. This is our way of giving something back and helping other children with liver disease.”

Dr Mark Wright, consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist at University Hospital Southampton, said “The arrival of the probe allows a quick on-the-spot assessment which saves time for our patients. Most importantly it is safe, painless and, because of its non-invasive nature, also eliminates the stress of a stay in hospital.

“Before we started using the FibroScan here, children would either travel to Kings London Hospital or undergo a biopsy, which would require a general anaesthetic at Southampton Children’s Hospital. It really will make such a significant difference.”

One of the first patients to use the new FibroScan probe was Eden Mold, 7, from Sway in the New Forest. Mum Katie, 39, said “Travel to Kings London Hospital is a full day out and incredibly stressful, especially for a child with special needs. This will make a huge difference to our family, not just in terms of time but in the cost of travel too”

Southampton Children’s Hospital is one of the busiest outreach clinics from Kings London Hospital, seeing more than 250 children with liver conditions. Patients are referred from 11 hospitals across the Wessex region, covering four local counties.

Dr Nadeem Afzal, consultant in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition said: “I’m really excited that, for the first time in Southampton, we can now provide this service in our local paediatric liver clinics.

“I want to say a special thank-you to Dana Fry for her wonderful donation to Southampton Hospitals Charity, and for her fundraising. Her daughter Mylah’s legacy will help hundreds of other children with liver conditions.”