Abu Dhabi hospital resumes kidney transplants for younger patients

Doctors said they must carefully weigh up who is fit enough for surgery while the risk of the virus remains

An organ is delivered to medical staff to enable the first transplant surgery to be carried out in Dubai in 2016. Courtesy: Dubai Media office

The UAE’s main kidney transplant centre will accept patients again after surgeries were put on hold due to the pandemic.

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has resumed its transplant operations for young people who are free of underlying health conditions.

Older patients, and those with serious medical problems, remain on a waiting list for now.

Patients who do receive an organ match, which is often from a relative with kidney operations, must quarantine before and after the transplant.

The first four such patients, all under 30, were admitted to the hospital for surgeries in recent weeks.

“We have resumed transplants but only under specific criteria,” said Dr Mohamed Yahya Al Seiari, a nephrologist at the government-run hospital.

“Previously, we used to transplant all suitable patients. Unfortunately, because of Covid-19, we are selecting donors and patients very carefully."

After a transplant, a patient is put on heavy immunosuppressants to ensure the body does not reject the organ.

That puts them at high risk of illness.

“We have to be very careful regarding who should be offered a transplant during this pandemic and balance the risk of Covid-19," he said.

“Young patients, who would have waited longer on the list, are now being offered transplants, and older patients with other comorbid conditions, specifically diabetics, are requested to wait.

“Once the pandemic becomes less severe, or an effective vaccine is available, high-risk patients will be offered transplants again."

The recent transplant patients were British, Emirati, Pakistani, and a Filipino, Dr Al Seiari said.

Many more patients, who have cleared the pre-operative tests, are on the waiting list.

“There were patients who were ready and some who have even travelled from abroad, but because of Covid-19 have not had the transplant done," said Dr Muhammad Badar Zaman, head of transplant surgery.

"We had some patients expecting donors from abroad, but because of flight restrictions, this too was suspended."

Pre-operation rules have also changed.

Previously, a patient and a donor would check into the hospital just one day before surgery - but this has now increased to two weeks.

“Kidney disease patients are a particular set of population who are very sick," said Dr Al Seiari.

"Many of them have diabetes, which is a high risk for Covid-19, with poor outcomes.

"And if we go ahead and induce immunosuppression, we will put them at high risk. We have to pick a middle ground where you transplant them yet keep them safe.”

Abdul Rehman Hashmani, 22, a student at Wollongong University in Dubai, was among those to undergo a transplant.

He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease 10 months ago and was placed on dialysis.

“It was horrible. I took steroids in the beginning to revive my kidneys, and I had horrible side effects,” he said.

He was told he needed a kidney transplant but had to wait for a suitable donor.

“I was lucky that I got a call within six months. On July 17, they found a donor,” he said.

“I was pretty happy because it rarely happens that you get a call within six months. The waiting time is usually three to four years."

He moved to Abu Dhabi to ensure he could go for regular tests after the surgery.

“Now, I am doing well,” he said.