August 12, 2010
School of Medicine, Kochi
 

Dr. V. N. Unni, Professor and Head of the Department of Nephrology was recently selected as Key Opinion Leader for Kidney Transplantation in India by the International Transplantation Society.
 

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients who have end-stage renal disease, wherein they have permanently lost over 90% of their kidney function. The only two options available to such patients are kidney transplantation or undergoing life-long dialysis.
 

In India, over 1,00,000 new patients develop end-stage renal disease every year. At least half of these patients are fit enough to undergo kidney transplantation. A successful transplantation enhances the quality of life of the patient and he/she is able to perform all normal activities.
 

Amrita has a comprehensive kidney transplantation program. coordinated by the Department of Nephrology.
 

“All essential departments and laboratory support is provided under one roof,” stated Dr. Unni, while sharing details of the program. “We do the pre-transplant evaluation with help from Urology and other specialties. The evaluation is essential to ensure that the patient is fit for transplant surgery.”
 

“The laboratories, Radiology and Nuclear Medicine departments are able to do all the essential investigations.”
 

“A state-of-the-art hemodialysis unit prepares patients for the transplant surgery; the unit has the latest computerized dialysis machines and monitors to ensure patient safety.
 

“Well-equipped and most modern operation theatres where experienced and qualified Anesthesiology, Urology and Vascular Surgery teams work, provide a safe surgical procedure for patients.”
 

After surgery, patients are looked by a team of trained nurses, nephrologists and transplant surgeons, in an Intensive Care Unit.
 

“Well-planned protocol-based postoperative care helps in prompt recovery after surgery. Transplant recipients are followed up with on a regular basis by the transplant team.”
 

Amrita has successfully completed 265 kidney transplant operations to-date. Of these, ten have been made possible by cadaver donor transplantations.
 

“Of the 50,000 patients in our country eligible for kidney transplantations, only about 3500 to 4000 actually undergo this procedure every year,” shared Dr. Unni. “The reason is that the remaining patients do not find a suitable kidney donor. That is why cadaver organ donations are important.”
 

The kidney transplantation program at Amrita is considered as one of the best such centers in terms of volume and outcome. Its no wonder then, that Dr. Unni has been selected as Key Opinion Leader to help bring relief to more and more patients.
 

“This indeed is recognition for his hard work, organization skills and quality patient care delivery,” proudly stated Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Senior Medical Administrator at AIMS. “We congratulate him for bringing laurels to the Dept, Transplant Program and to Amrita.”