Pune: Symbiosis University Hospital & Research Centre Conducts Its First Successful Kidney Transplant
Pune, 16th October 2023: Symbiosis University Hospital & Research Centre (SUHRC) marked a significant milestone by successfully performing its first organ donation and kidney transplant operation on September 19, 2023.
The recipient, a 17-year-old girl, suffered from Alport’s Syndrome, a genetic kidney disease. She had been undergoing chronic maintenance hemodialysis for two years, grappling with multiple health issues and financial burdens. As both her parents carried similar genes, they were ineligible to donate kidneys. Transferring her cadaver kidney program registration from Sassoon Hospital to SUHRC, the young patient received a new kidney within a month, granting her and her family enormous relief.
Post-surgery complications were mitigated with optimal immunosuppressive medicines, and the patient was discharged in stable condition on September 29. Both the donor and recipient details are to be kept confidential.
Pioneering Achievements by SUHRC
1) SUHRC becomes the first teaching hospital to commence an organ transplant program within just three years of its founding.
2) Contrary to the norm of using live donors for the first transplant, SUHRC achieved the rare feat of using a cadaver donation.
3) The hospital’s multi-disciplinary approach, featuring Nephrologists, Urologists, and Transplant surgeons, played a key role in the successful operation.
Further Commitments and Financial Aspects
As a charitable hospital, SUHRC performed the transplant at a very affordable cost. Given the higher rejection rates in female recipients, SUHRC is exploring cost-effective transplant programs exclusively for women.
Operational Highlights and Future Plans
1) SUHRC emphasized the need for priority allocation for women and patients with genetic disorders in organ donation programs.
2) The institution aims to raise organ donation awareness among its students and faculties.
Spurred by this inaugural success, SUHRC is gearing up to expand its transplant services and establish a full-fledged human organ and tissue transplant unit, benchmarked with global standards. This initiative is also seen as a step forward in promoting medical tourism.
