A New Medical Achievement: Transferring Kidneys from Brain-Dead Donors Between Hospitals in Oman

Muscat – ONA: The National Organ Transplant Program has successfully achieved a new medical milestone by transferring two kidneys from brain-dead donors at the Royal Hospital to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in the University Medical City.

Dr. Qasim bin Mohammed Al-Jahdhami, Head of the Organ Donation Department in the National Organ Transplant Program, told the Oman News Agency that the first transfer was carried out on October 22, followed by the second on November 5.

He explained that the first kidney transplant was performed at the Royal Hospital, while the second was carried out at SQUH for two patients suffering from chronic kidney failure and lacking living donors.

Dr. Al-Jahdhami emphasized that time was a critical factor for the success of the procedures, as organs can only be preserved for a limited time before transplantation. The first transfer took 34 minutes, while the second took 27 minutes, highlighting the efficiency of the planning and execution by the medical teams involved.

He noted that the number of organ donors this year has reached a record high. The National Organ Transplant Program has made significant progress, with five families consenting to donate the organs of their brain-dead relatives after being approached by program staff who explained the importance of organ donation.

This effort resulted in 10 kidney transplants and two liver transplants, the highest number of posthumous organ donations in a single year since kidney transplantation began in Oman in 1988.

Dr. Al-Jahdhami added that the total number of registrants on the Ministry of Health's “Shifa” app for posthumous organ donation has reached 16,000. He urged citizens and residents to register as organ donors through the app, contributing to saving the lives of many patients suffering from organ failure and awaiting a second chance at life.

He expressed gratitude on behalf of the National Organ Transplant Program to medical teams across various healthcare institutions for their pivotal role in the success of organ donation and transplantation. He also extended appreciation to the families of the donors for their humanity and generosity in saving others' lives, praying for mercy for the deceased and blessings for their families.

Dr. Ziyana bint Talib Al-Hadhramiya, a kidney transplant consultant at the University Medical City in SQUH, stated that the hospital, in collaboration with the National Organ Transplant Program, successfully conducted two kidney transplants from brain-dead donors. Omani patients with kidney failure benefited from these transplants, which were successful, with both patients discharged in good health and with excellent kidney function.