Patient born with one kidney undergoes successful transplant at HMC

A 30 year old Arab expatriate, born with only one kidney has undergone a successful kidney transplant at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The patient, who suffered from failing renal functions was operated upon on 19^th March, 2011, and was discharged within 10 days.

The kidney was donated by the patient’s cousin, who was discharged from the hospital after three days.

Speaking about his experience of undergoing kidney transplant at HMC, the recipient said,” I preferred getting operated at HMC over hospitals in my home country as the doctors here gave me more confidence and care and at the same time made the kidney transplant procedure seamless. The medical care I received at the hospital is of a very high standard and as professional as you can get anywhere else in the world”.

According to the doctors involved in the procedure, as a result of the patient having only one kidney the adverse impact of high blood pressure was affecting his renal functions.

”We could not wait for further deterioration of the kidney functions. So we took the patient into confidence and told him his true medical condition, which could have become critical if he would have not got the donor soon,” said Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani, Chief of Staff at HGH and the Chairman of the Organ Transplant Committee.

Although the patient’s father was willing to donate one kidney to his son, but stringent tests by HMC ruled this out. The patient’s cousin, who is also living in Doha came forward to donate his kidney.

After the operation the patient is now on the road to recovery and has returned to his wife and two children and his extended family here in Doha.

“As per procedures we took care of all the pre-operative and post-operative expenses of the patient and the donor. The patient will also be receiving all his medications free from the hospital,” Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani stated.

He called on people to consider becoming donors as there are more than 600 patients who are awaiting donors in Qatar.

Nine successful kidney transplants conducted in 2010 at HMC 

Marking a major leap forward in the number of kidney transplants in a single calendar year, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) saw nine such procedures for the year 2010.

“For the last many years we had on an average just three kidney transplants due to lack of donors. But last year saw a quantum jump with more and more donors coming forward,” said Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani, Chief of Staff at HGH and Chairman of Organ Transplant Committee at HMC.

He further added that the donors are accepted only after stringent tests for various ailments such high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol etc.

The kidney transplant team at HMC has also introduced laparoscopy for conducting kidney transplant. The new procedure is simpler and faster and results in shorter hospital stay and better patient outcomes.

HMC is also working towards getting international accreditation for its kidney transplant service.