Dr Sanand Bag ( sitting left) , Senior Urologist & Transplant Surgeon , Dr Vinay Sakhuja ( in middle) , Director Nephrology & Transplant Medicine & Dr Munish Chauhan, Senior Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician at Max Super Specialty Hospital (MSSH) , Mohali during the announcing of successful transplantation of kidney to an HIV positive patient at a hotel in Sector 43, Chandigarh on Friday.
Chandigarh, January 17, 2014: In a significant development, the doctors at Max Super Specialty Hospital (MSSH) , Mohali have successfully transplanted a kidney to an HIV positive patient. This is one of the few cases done so far in India and the second of an Indian national. The surgery was performed by a team of doctors, comprising of Dr Vinay Sakhuja, Director Nephrology & Transplant Medicine, Dr Sanand Bag, Senior Urologist & Transplant Surgeon and Dr Munish Chauhan, Senior Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician. The development has given a new lease of hope to over 2 million HIV infected population in the country, especially those suffering from chronic kidney failure.
The treated 35-yr patient Hari (name changed) had an unusual experience living with HIV. He contracted this infection unknowingly in his teenage through sharing needles among his peer group. Later he detached himself from drugs, got a graduation degree and started working in family business. About 10-yr back, Hari was devastated when he detected positive for HIV, but fortunately all through this his family supported him. With the effective medication (HAART), his general condition remained stable and he got married and was leading a normal life.
Little did he know that in long term complication of HIV or for other reasons, he developed chronic kidney failure. Desperate for help, the family enquired about dialysis or transplant treatment at many centers all over the country, but was denied treatment because of his HIV status. Hapless and harried they approached MSSH, Mohali, where the doctors decided to treat the patient. Hari’s 27–yr old wife, Heena (name changed) donated one of her kidneys to her husband. After successful surgery the patient was discharged with normal kidney function. The patient and his family have expressed gratitude towards the medical staff, nurses, paramedical staff of Max Hospital for the best medical care and comfort offered to them.
Addressing a press conference at a Sector 43 hotel here today, Dr Chauhan said that kidney transplant was a viable and necessary option for HIV patients with CKD especially since kidney disease takes a large toll on this group. This kidney transplant was amongst very few done in our country. HIV was not an issue, but the illnesses associated with the immune-compromised state. While these patients found it difficult to get regular dialysis because of stigma, discrimination and cost, kidney transplant is the answer, asserted Dr Chauhan.
Dr Bag who performed the complex operation at Max Hospital Mohali said that traditionally HIV patients were not considered transplant candidates and any transplant in this group of patient was still experimental. This patient was bed- ridden, and was refused dialysis and surgery by many other hospitals due to HIV status and complex procedure. But it was heartening that he got transplant in our center and now was doing well off dialysis and could live his further life happily. Careful patient selection, coordinated transplant and infectious disease care, managing drug interactions and continuous monitoring & surveillance for infections were keys to success in such cases. Operating on HIV patients carried a significant risk of cross infection to healthcare providers, so universal precautions have to be taken throughout, Dr Bag maintained.
Speaking during occasion, Prof Sakhuja said that with effective antiviral medicines(HAART) and treatment facility being available for HIV, and continuous awareness by many NGOs and government agencies, more and more HIV patients were surviving for longer period and also maintain good health. This case has proven that HIV patients with kidney failure can undergo kidney transplant and lead a normal life.
“India has more than 2 million HIV infected population, with approximately 60,000 new HIV-1 infections annually. Thus a significant number of HIV positive individuals were at risk for developing kidney failure (CKD & ESRD).”
Dr Ashutosh Sood, GM- Operations, MSSH, Mohali said that we were proud to have be associated with such an efficient team at Max Mohali. Kidney transplant was best option for any patient with kidney failure and after conducting a successful ABO-incompatible kidney transplant recently and now successfully doing transplant in HIV positive patient was another milestone achieved by our transplant team at Max Hospital Mohali, maintained Dr Sood.//punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news,