Pune: Urokul Hospital performed Kidney Transplants using a Laparoscopic technique

Pune: City-based UROKUL- Kulkarni Uro Surgery Institute (Urokul Hospital) performed a two-kidney transplant using a Laparoscopic technique by noted laparoscopic surgeon Dr Jyotsna Kulkarni and her team, informed by Dr Sanjay Kulkarni, director of UROKUL-Kulkarni Uro Surgery Institute and past president of the Urology Society of India in the press conference.

Along with Dr. Sanjay Kulkarni, Dr. Jyotsna Kulkarni, Nephrologist Dr. Suhas Mondhe & Dr. Shruti Dange, Robotic Surgeon Dr. Amit Hosmani, Founder President of Baner-Balewadi Medical Association Dr. Rajesh Deshpande were present in the press conference. Kidney donors & recipients also participated in the conference via Google Meet. First time at UROKUL, the doctors used the laparoscopic technique and did not require open surgery, Dr. Kulkarni added.

Under the guidance of Dr. Jyotsna Kulkarni, team of Urologist Dr. Sanjay Kulkarni, Dr. Pankaj Joshi, Dr. Shreyas Bhadranwar, Robotic Surgeon Dr. Amit Hosmani, Nephrologist Dr. Suhas Mondhe, Dr. Shruti Dange, Dr. Uday Chandankhede, Dr. Adarsh Kuri, Dr. Apurva Anand, Dr. Amey Talpallikar, Dr. Manjushri Pardeshi, Dr. Sudhir Phadake, Saumya Kulkarni performed these two transplants successively.

In the first transplant, Nashik-based Shyamala Kulkarni (66) donated her kidney to her brother Hemant Kulkarni’s wife Sukanya (58), who was suffering from chronic kidney disease & in the second transplant Mumbai-based pediatrician Dr Popat Shravan Sathe (61) donated his kidney to his 29-year-old physiotherapist son Tushar.

Dr Sanjay Kulkarni said traditionally the donor, a healthy individual, would have to undergo a major operation where the kidney is removed after a large incision. However, using the laparoscopic technique, tiny incisions are made to remove the kidney and the donor goes back to his/her routine activity in a few days. UROKUL is a 105-bed facility in Pune for urology and nephrology patients. This is the sought-after referral center for patients having urethral obstruction and obstructed flow of urine, he added.

The institute is self-sufficient in caring for kidney and dialysis patients and has a 10-bed dialysis unit with the most advanced machine and treatment protocol. The surgeries for the donor were done with laparoscopic techniques, due to which the blood loss was very minimal, and the patient recovered faster and without much pain. Now, both the donors and recipients are doing well, mentioned Dr Jyotsna Kulkarni.

According to consultant nephrologist and transplant physician Dr Suhas Mondhe, almost weekly he consulted at least four patients in their 30s who had advanced kidney disease, and in most cases, it was of unknown etiology. For instance, Tushar had seriously high creatinine levels that indicate kidney impairment. However, there was no specific cause.

Hence, ahead of World Kidney Day (March 14), we want to step up awareness about the importance of kidneys to our overall health,” said Dr Mondhe. The entire month, there will be medical checkups for relatives of patients to promote kidney health for all, he added.