Abu Dhabi- By the end of October 2009, fifteen kidney transplants with excellent clinical outcomes were performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) – managed by Cleveland Clinic. The multi-organ transplantation program was started in February 2007 and created under the guidance of Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA) and Cleveland Clinic. 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”.
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