Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM
Latest News
- Guyanese losing millions from Govt. and Opposition’s failure to to manage oil sector
- ‘Guyana’s Stabroek Block success is like a Michelin Star Restaurant’ – Exxon official
- Gaza appeals for help as Israeli army attacks key hospitals
- Face the Press, Mr. President!
- State makes application to revoke Brutus’ bail
Six potential candidates screened for kidney transplants at private hospital
Six potential kidney transplant candidates were screened by prominent transplant surgeon, Dr Rahul Jindal, at the Balwant Singh Hospital yesterday, as plans take shape for an inaugural bout of transplant operations at the private facility.
Yesterday’s screening activity was deemed as crucial since according to Dr Jindal, there is a need to ensure that patients are suitable for the intricate operation and that they have a suitable donor as well.
Dr Rahul Jindal
In addition, he noted that potential patients’ medical condition must be reasonable so that they can be operated on. “We cannot do the surgery if they are too old or too young or if they have medical problems so that we have to correct these problems before we can do any surgery.”
Laboratory tests and x-rays have already been done for the potential candidates and some of them may be eligible for the implantation of peritoneal dialysis catheter in anticipation of an operation.
He revealed during an interview with this newspaper, yesterday, that he intends to carry out an initial transplant operation at the facility as early as late April or early May depending on the logistics.
According to him, it will take a while before he can put together a team that will have to consist of another surgeon, an anaesthesiologist, nurses and other health professionals to assist the process.
The operations, he said, will be funded by renowned New York-based business tycoon, George Subraj of Zara Realty even as he explained the complicated nature of the transplant operation.
“We could not do all six of the patients at one time even if we wanted to. We have to do them one at a time.
These are very, very complicated operations; each take about five hours…Taking the kidney out is a very long operation and the post operative care is very important, so we can’t do more than one right now.”
In addition, he said that the operations will serve as training grounds for staffers of the Balwant Singh Hospital who have been selected to assist.
But it is Dr Jindal’s expectation that after a while, perhaps even next year when a few more operations would have been completed that more than one could be done at a time at the Balwant Singh Hospital.
He said that officials from the private hospital had expressed their interest to utilise his services which he willingly availed.
Dr Jindal, who is attached to the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Washington D.C., United States, had made his mark on these shores in 2008 when he conducted the first ever kidney transplant operation at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The patient was 18-year-old Munesh Mangal, who received a kidney from his mother, Leelkumarie Mangal. The move was regarded as the start of a public/private partnership which saw another transplant operation being undertaken in the following year.
This time it was 47-year-old Winston George, an army officer who was forced to retire because of his ailing condition caused by his kidney condition. Two more operations were reportedly done through collaboration with Subraj with the support of Government.
However, the public/private partnership has since been halted, because according to Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, Michael Khan, plans are in train to put in place a more concretised system to offer the intricate yet crucial service.
But according to Dr Jindal he has not been so informed by the GPHC management. He however speculated that there are some problems with the system that existed at the public hospital. “We feel it is not efficient as it should be. They have not corresponded anything to me so I don’t really know why they have put a temporary halt to this (programme).”
He disclosed his belief that the Balwant Singh hospital was seen as ideal for the transplant operation as it currently has better facilities and things can be done faster. “We decided to come and see the place and screen the patients. And we will do operations here as long as it is possible.”
However, Dr Jindal reveals that he continues to do follow-up with the patients that were previously operated on, adding that they are all doing well. The follow-up programme has proven to be even more efficient with the formation of a social support group which was formed by Winston George.
Through this avenue, Dr Jindal, said that he is able to offer advice and assistance to persons who have kidney problems with the assistance of George.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals!
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Ah, Christmas—the season of goodwill, good cheer, and, let’s not forget, good riddance!... more
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Weekend Cartoon
