KARACHI, Sept 29: Doctors at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) have performed renal transplantation in six children. Although the process was unique and challenging, it was accomplished successfully at the institute, doctors said.

According to Prof Anwar Naqvi, a senior doctor at the SIUT, the last child patient among the six was discharged from the institute on Thursday.

Prof Naqvi mentioned that the challenge of kidney transplantation in children is unique as large-sized adult kidney from their parent is accommodated to a child which is more prone to rejection.

He said that the procedure was first of its kind in the country as it required extensive care and post-operation vigilant monitoring.

The children, aged between two and 10, and weighing between 4.5 and 20 kg are showing an extremely healthy and robust progress. These children are reflecting infection-free post-transplant phase, he said.

The initiative was taken during the last couple of weeks at the SIUT which is the only public sector institute possessing state-of-the-art treatment facilities for patients of urology, nephrology and transplantation.

Reminding that in private sector, single transplant in adults costs from Rs500,000 to 600,000, with an additional Rs15,000 per month for maintenance, including provision for immuno-suppression drugs, the surgeon said, adding the SIUT is offering the services free of charge.

During the last 10 years, over 200 children, including the six in question, have been transplanted at the SIUT.

The SIUT team was helped in the latest transplantations by a team from Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK, said another doctor.

Discussing the renal transplant in children, the SIUT said that the stone diseases and birth defects of kidney system in children largely result in renal failures requiring replacement therapy.

Children on life-saving dialysis are at risk of acquiring growth retardation and bone diseases, while the kidney transplantation provides a better quality of life, with complete rehabilitation so that they can grow and attend schools just like other children.

SIUT started transplantation in 1985, and has, so far, performed 1,500 renal transplants in patients suffering from end-stage kidney failure completely free of cost.

Performing successfully the critical surgery upon under weight children (largely belonging to resource-less families) is another feather in SIUT’s cap.

Those who can afford to go abroad have to spend no less than Rs12.50 million for similar procedure abroad, the doctors said.