Kuwaiti physicians perform first laparoscopic nephrectomy

KUN0068 4 GEN 0293 KUWAIT /KUNA-JZJ2 HLT-KUWAIT-SURGERY Kuwaiti physicians perform first laparoscopic nephrectomy By Khaled Al-Zaid KUWAIT, Sept 30 (KUNA) -- An operation performed by a team of Kuwaiti physicians at Hamid Al-Eisa Organ Transplant Center to remove a patient's kidney using a laparoscope, the first laparoscopic nephrectomy in Kuwait, was a success, Dr. Adnan Sadiq told KUNA Tuesday. The organ transplant specialist told KUNA the patient was a female in her thirties and had suffered chronic inflammation to the left kidney and the decision to operate had been taken when the kidney ceased to function. The patient is now in good condition and suffering no complications. The physician said another doctor had assisted, Dr. Hsein Hayati, and added Hamid Al-Eisa Organ Transplant Center Chairman and surgery consultant Dr. Mustafa Al-Musawi had supervised. This minimally invasive surgery was performed in 50 minutes compared to over two hours that would have been required for traditional surgery. Also among the benefits of this procedure is that it requires less hospital and bed stay and results in fewer complications for the patient. The specialist pointed out that while the old approach required a 25 centimeter incision, this procedure required two 1-centimeter incisions and a third seven-centimeter cut where the kidney exits. This laparoscopic nephrectomy is only the beginning as the team wants to have more several laparoscopic equipment to work with and have more options when performing this minimally invasive procedure. Dr. Adnan Sadiq pointed out the center performs two kidney transplants per week. In fact, he said, the center had this week performed the thousandth kidney transplant since its establishment in 1979. (end) kz.ya.wsa KUNA 301639 Sep 03NNNN