Peter Liou '13 Participates in the First Domino Split-Liver Transplant in Adults in the United States

Dr. Peter Liou '13 was a key member of the team at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia that completed a rare “domino” split-liver transplant, setting a new precedent for the field. Over 15 hours across four operating rooms running concurrently, a surgical team of more than 30 members, including anesthesiologists, nurses, perfusionists, and surgeons, coordinated three separate transplants simultaneously. The procedure, which took place on July 8, 2025, began with a healthy altruistic donor who provided a portion of their liver to the first recipient. That recipient’s liver—structurally intact but affected by a metabolic disorder that made it unsuitable for them—was then removed, divided, and transplanted into two additional recipients. Because donated livers regenerate, the initial act of generosity will ultimately result in four fully functioning livers.

Dr. Liou, an assistant professor of surgery at VP&S and an attending transplant surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, is trained in minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques. In this multi-step surgical chain, he operated on one of the final recipients, removing their diseased liver and implanting the split graft.

Read the full story about the domino split-liver transplant.