Welcome to Paediatric Liver & Liver Transplant Services South Africa
From newborns to teenagers, we offer professional liver treatment with a focus on accurate diagnosis and compassionate care for paediatric liver conditions.
Our high-volume unit performs 20–30 paediatric liver transplants each year and is a recognised centre for treating liver conditions. Since 2005, we have performed over 350 liver transplants.
We have been performing related living donor liver transplants in children since 2013 and are the only centre in South Africa to offer this service.
We perform a higher proportion of transplants for acute liver failure than the rest of the world and have managed to maintain an unadjusted survival rate for children one year after surgery of around 80%, which compares well to the 80-90% documented internationally.
Dr. Sarah Berkenfeld
My passion for paediatrics began during my community service year at Barberton Hospital in Mpumalanga, where I was inspired to continue my postgraduate studies in paediatrics in Johannesburg. After gaining experience in general paediatrics, I joined the Wits Donald Gordon Transplant Unit in 2019. Since then, I have been part of a team offering children advanced treatment for liver conditions in South Africa.
Pursuing a subspecialty in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition was a natural progression, and the WDGMC Transplant Unit has become my professional home and family. Here, I am proud to be part of a dedicated team of experts committed to advancing transplant hepatology and gastroenterology.
Dr. Marisa Beretta
My passion for working with children was sparked during my community service in paediatric surgery. After specialising and completing my MMED, I subspecialised at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in 2018, training within the transplant unit and subsequently dedicating my practice exclusively to paediatric hepatology and transplantation. I aim to advocate for advancing paediatric transplant medicine, to fulfil the role of ambassador for South Africa in the international paediatric liver transplant community, and improve awareness of both liver disease and access to liver transplantation in the country. With our team, we practice and contribute to the latest advancements in paediatric liver transplantation and the treatment of liver conditions for children across South Africa.
Meet Your Doctors
What we do
Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre has the largest paediatric liver transplant unit in South Africa. We help children with liver conditions from all over the country, from newborns to teenagers. Our multidisciplinary team works together to provide comprehensive treatment of liver disease, supporting children and their families from all over South Africa and Africa every step of the way.
Our comprehensive services include diagnosis, management, and support for chronic and acute liver diseases, ensuring each child receives personalised care.
Access a team of dedicated specialists:
- Paediatric, Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgeons
- Paediatric Intensivists
- Paediatric Dieticians
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational & Speech Therapists
- Interventional Radiology Specialists
Conditions We Treat Include:
We provide professional treatment for children facing a wide range of liver-related conditions. From chronic and inherited disorders to acute liver failure, our team is equipped to diagnose, manage, and treat complex paediatric liver diseases with care and precision.
Chronic Liver Disease secondary to:
Our team offers long-term treatment for children with chronic liver conditions across South Africa, including:
- Biliary atresia
- Choledochal cysts
- Inherited disorders of cholestasis
- Alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency
- Familial intrahepatic Cholestasis
- Galactosemia
- Tyrosinaemia
- Wilsons Disease
- Neonatal Giant Cell Hepatitis
- HLH (haemophagocytic)
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cryptogenic cirrhosis
- Venoocclusive disease
- Budd Chiari syndrome
- Fibrocystic liver disease
- Metabolic-dysfunction associated liver disease (MASLD)
Acute liver Disease and failure secondary to:
We manage life-threatening conditions with urgent and specialised treatment for liver conditions, including:
- Viral hepatitis
- HLH
- MIS-C
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Wilsons disease
- Paracetamol or Toxic liver injury
- Indeterminate hepatitis
Other conditions:
Our services also include treatment for rare and complex liver-related disorders, such as:
- Disorders of immune regulation involving the liver
- Extrahepatic portal hypertension
- Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis
- Vascular malformations involving the hepatosplenic circulation
- Liver tumours and space-occupying lesions
Call or Email
Get in touch with us via the methods below.
Be Prepared
Arrive on time and ensure all referral information is sent to reception@paedstransplant.co.za before your visit.
Book Your Next Appointment
Before leaving the clinic, please schedule your next appointment and ensure you receive all necessary documents.
Telephone
011 356 6505
Cellphone
067 413 5449
reception@paedstransplant.co.za
For Emergencies
Please note that Donald Gordon does not have an emergency department. Please go to your nearest casualty for Emergencies.
trusted centre for liver transplantation and hepatology
As a trusted centre for liver transplant and hepatology, our team is committed to providing an environment of care and support. We ensure your child’s journey is as smooth and informed as possible. Call or email us today.
your doctors
Dr. Beretta and Dr. Berkenfeld alternate coverage of the liver hepatology clinic. Your appointment will be with the doctor on call for that week.
seamless care
We ensure seamless coordination between all specialists involved in your child’s treatment, with thorough case handovers and collaborative planning.
possible delays
Please forgive any delays caused by urgent ward demands or patients with unexpected complex/multiple problems. When booking, we can’t foresee emergencies which patient will need more time than average.
Pre-Appointment Information
Preparing For
Your Appointment
Punctuality: Please arrive on time to facilitate a smooth appointment process. We’ll see you as soon as we can.
New Patients: Before your visit, please ensure all referral information is sent to reception@paedstransplant.co.za.
We’re paperless: You will receive a Logbox link via SMS to register before or when you arrive for your appointment.
Consultation Fees: Consultations are charged at private rates; please confirm with your medical aid that these rates are supported.
Cancellations Policy: If you cannot make your appointment, please cancel no later than 24 hours beforehand to avoid paying the full consultation penalty. Exceptions will be made for unforeseeable emergencies; please contact the clinic as soon as possible.
After Your Consultation: Before leaving the clinic, please schedule your next appointment and ensure you receive all necessary documents (e.g., prescriptions, blood forms, radiology requests, and sick notes). Please ask your treating doctor if you are unsure of any necessary procedures.
Book an appointment with our specialised team and experience professional liver treatment in Johannesburg tailored for children.
