Fifteen kidney transplants surgeries performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

SKMC is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The patients who were transplanted at SKMC had uneventful operations and most were discharged on post-operative day 4 or 5. The donors and recipients were both discharged together in most cases.

H.E. Mr. Saif Bader Al Qubaisi, accompanied by top officials from SEHA and SKMC, visited a group of the kidney transplant patients and donors two days after surgery to check on their recovery process. All commented favorably on the importance of the unique act of donation, and how special donors are to give a lifesaving gift like a kidney to another.

H.E. Mr. Al Qubaisi, said:

"Under the leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the guidance of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company- SEHA has established goals to upgrade the healthcare delivery system of Abu Dhabi to world class standards."

During the visit, H.E. Mr. Al Qubaisi also praised the efforts of the surgeons and medical team of SKMC saying, "The success of the multi-organ transplantation program at SKMC is a source of great pride for SEHA and SKMC. It is evidence of our commitment to the continual improvement of healthcare delivery services in Abu Dhabi and the UAE."

"The continued expansion and ongoing success of the multi-organ transplantation program is yet another significant step forward towards a healthcare system comparable to the best in the world. With this program in place, SKMC is able to treat transplant patients in the UAE rather than sending them abroad for treatment. As a result, we are not adding to their suffering by requiring them to be outside the country and away from family and the cultural support we have here, but also in increased convenience and comfort for them and their respective families in follow-up care," he added.

From the hospital side, Dr. Tej Maini, CEO of SKMC stated, "SKMC's multi-organ transplantation program is a world-class program where all the donor surgeries were done laparoscopically. Our medical team continues to provide complete care for transplant patients including preoperative workup for recipients and donors, hospital admissions, operative care, post operative care, and immunosuppressive drugs that are necessary to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. We aim to take as many patients as possible off renal dialysis - however we need people to donate their organs for this to happen."

The group of patients and donors who were visited lately by officials from SEHA and SKMC sent out thank you messages to the President of the UAE, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nayhan and the government of Abu Dhabi for their nobility and kindness. They all agreed that their life will improve after they stop renal dialysis.

Dr. Atul Mehta, Chief Medical Officer of SKMC commented, "SKMC and SEHA plan is to continue offering kidney and corneal transplantation and in the near future begin offering Liver transplantation. We also intend to expand services to include pancreas, lung, and small bowel transplantation - thus providing state of the art transplantation care. SKMC will take the lead in Transplantation Care in the UAE, offering current, up-to-date treatment protocols under the competent guidance and management of Cleveland Clinic."

Dr. Abrar Khan, Head of the multi-organ transplantation program at SKMC said, "The post-operative follow up is intense and consists of three visits per week for the first month, two visits per week for the second month, and one visit per week for the third month. After three months, they are seen once every two weeks until it is deemed acceptable for them to be followed monthly. During these follow up visits, close attention is paid to the levels of immunosuppression, and any other medical problems they might have such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. Additionally, close attention is paid to long term issues such as cholesterol profiles and cardiac risk, bone densities, blood pressure control, sugar control, among others."

"We are glad to see our patients more comfortable now and in better health. It is also worth mentioning that our team managed to perform 4 kidney transplants in only 3 days in September 2009 during the visit of Dr. Jihad Kaouk from Cleveland Clinic who helped us with the surgeries. Dr. Kaouk is an internationally renowned surgeon at Cleveland Clinic's Department of Urology," Dr. Khan added.