Successful Kidney Transplantation in India: A Case Study

Kidney transplantation is a major procedure conducted on patients with faulty renal function due to end-stage renal disease. In this procedure, a healthy kidney from a suitable donor is transplanted into the patient's body to restore normal renal function. Mr. Kisagero Rhobi from Tanzania was one such patient with end-stage kidney disease. He had been on dialysis for months when his daughter, Bahadi, got in touch with MediGence for assistance regarding her father's treatment.

Introduction

Mr Kisagero, 50, is a resident of Tanzania. His daughter, Bahadi, raised an inquiry regarding his father's treatment abroad because of the unavailability of proper medical facilities in her home country. With so many options to consider, Bahadi and her father finally chose India as their destination because of its affordable pricing and better healthcare.

As soon as the team at MediGence received the inquiry from Bahadi on behalf of her father, the Patient Care representative contacted her to gather details about her father. During the discussion, Bahadi informed that her aunt (her father's sister) would be the donor for her father. She shared her father's complete medical history and the reports for further review and opinion. The team at MediGence promised Bahadi that they would get back to her within 24 hours with a firm opinion on the medical reports and the total cost of the treatment.

Pre-treatment

Mr. Kisagero was on dialysis when Bahadi got in touch with MediGence. His health had been deteriorating day by day, which really worried the family. Even the local doctor in Tanzania had advised that he needed urgent kidney transplantation and that he should be referred to a medical facility abroad to seek treatment. Considering the criticality of the situation, the team at MediGence quickly took action to assist the family in need of urgent help.

As promised, the team at MediGence got back to Bahadi within 24 hours of her reaching out for assistance. Bahadi was provided with a detailed opinion on her father's medical condition and a confirmation that, yes, he can travel for the surgery. She was also given information about the hospital, the doctor, and the costs associated with each. She ended up selecting BLK Hospital for the treatment of her father because of the best cost that the team had negotiated and the overall facilities provided by them.

Travel Period

Bahadi, along with her father and aunt, travelled to India on November 10, 2018. She was picked up by the Patient Care representative from MediGence and safely dropped off at the hotel, where the team had made a reservation for them. After all the pre-investigations, the transplantation surgery was finally conducted on December 22nd, 2018. Mr. Kisagero has been discharged from the hospital and is currently recuperating. They are planning to head back to Tanzania on January 17th, 2019.

Treatment Details

Mr. Kisagero and his sister attended their first consultation with the kidney transplant surgeon at BLK Hospital on the very next day of their arrival in the country. The surgeon wrote a prescription for the tests required before the surgery. In the meantime, a dialysis session was also planned for Mr. Kisagero to maintain his health until transplantation is planned. The team at MediGence helped the family prepare the documentation for the Ethics Committee.

They realised they had not brought all the documents they were advised to bring. However, they were given a fresh set of the list with documentation to prepare, which they did in coordination with their relatives back in Tanzania. In the meantime, all investigations were completed for the patient and the donor. The HLA did not match, so the doctor ordered a DNA fingerprinting test for the patient and the donor to confirm that they were actually related. The patient's family has explained the benefits of this test and its importance in securing approval from the Ethics Committee Meeting.

After the documentation was prepared and the test reports were ready, the complete papers were submitted to the Ethics Committee for review. The committee finally announced its decision and approved the surgery on December 13, and Mr. Kisagero and his sister were finally admitted on December 21, 2018. Just before the surgery, the blood pressure of the donor increased abnormally, because of which she had to be kept in recovery for a few hours.

They were transferred to the operating theatre after her blood pressure stabilised. The surgery was completed successfully, and they both were transferred to the recovery room in the evening and to their rooms the next day in the morning.

Post-treatment

The donor was made to walk after one day of the surgery. The patient was also made to walk after a day. His parameters began to normalise, and he received special attention throughout his recovery at the hospital. The overall recovery of the patient and the donor was uncomplicated. The donor is fully fit to fly back, and the patient has yet to attend a couple of follow-up appointments with the doctor. MediGence wishes both Mr. Kisagero and his sister a speedy recovery and a very healthy life ahead.

Both recipients (patients and statistics) had a systematic post-discharge plan that included prescriptions/medications, dietary instructions, and physical activities that progressed incrementally. Continuous monitoring and frequent follow-up appointments will result in continued success and decreased risk of future complications due to transplant surgery.