A WOMAN, who developed acute kidney failure due to very high blood pressure during pregnancy, has been given a new lease of life thanks to her sister. The woman in her mid-40s, identified only as Mai, suffered from swelling in her legs three years ago and was advised by doctors not to risk pregnancy that could lead to kidney failure.
However, Salmaniya Medical Complex consultant vascular and renal transplant surgeon Dr Sadiq Abdulla said yesterday she did get pregnant and had the same swelling of her legs into the seventh month.
“She underwent other tests and delivered through Caesarean section,” he said. “The kidney failure occurred last year and she has been on dialysis three times a week ever since at the BDF Hospital.”
Dr Abdulla said several members of the woman’s family volunteered to donate their organ, but the best match was of her sister.
The kidney was harvested from the donor, identified as Yusra, also in her 40s, using the keyhole laparoscopic method with minimum trauma to the donor, he said.
“The organ was later implanted into the recipient’s body,” said Dr Abdulla.
He said both the recipient and the donor had left the hospital last week and were doing well.
“The recipient, in particular, responded to the treatment and her body accepted the donated kidney well,” said Dr Abdulla.
“With this operation, we have so far completed 13 cases at the hospital this year and plan to do at least three more by the end of December.”
Gulf Daily