A successful kidney transplant operation performed at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital once again highlighted the life-saving importance of organ donation. Thanks to the exemplary decision of the family of a 19-year-old who had suffered brain death, hope was given to three patients, and one of the donated kidneys was successfully transplanted at KSÜ Health Practice and Research Hospital.
Following discussions between Organ Transplant Coordinator Dr. Mehmet Ali Düzkale and the hospital administration with the family, consent for organ donation was obtained. As part of the initiated process, the liver was sent to Gaziantep University, one kidney to Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital, and the other kidney to Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine Hospital.
A kidney brought to Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital was successfully transplanted to Ümran Akkaya, who had been undergoing dialysis treatment for years. The operation was coordinated by Prof. Dr. İlhami Taner Kale, a faculty member of the General Surgery Department at the KSÜ Faculty of Medicine, and carried out through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Sezgin Topuz, Dr. Emrah Cengiz, Dr. Ali İşler, as well as the Nephrology Department, the Anesthesia Department, and the Tissue Laboratory teams.
Following the successful operation, it was reported that the patient's new kidney has begun to function healthily, their general health is good, and their treatment is being closely monitored in the hospital. It was also stated that the patient's recovery process is proceeding as planned.
Commenting on the operation, Prof. Dr. İlhami Taner Kale stated that the sensitivity shown by the family who donated the organs gave three patients hope for a new life, and that this meaningful decision was of great importance in terms of raising social awareness.
Experience from kidney transplantation is being transferred to liver transplantation.
Prof. Dr. Kale stated, “Following the tragic traffic accident in our city, the family of the young man who suffered brain death made a great sacrifice by donating his organs. Thanks to this exemplary act, three of our patients were given a new lease on life. The kidney, which was delivered to our hospital, was successfully transplanted through the coordinated efforts of our General Surgery, Nephrology, and Anesthesia Departments, as well as our Tissue Typing Laboratory. The patient's kidney has begun to function properly, and the treatment process is progressing positively.”.
Prof. Dr. Kale emphasized that Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital has significant experience in the field of kidney transplantation, stating that they have performed numerous successful kidney transplants since 2010. He added that they provide high-quality healthcare services to the people of the region with their experienced academic staff, strong technical infrastructure, and multidisciplinary approach. Prof. Dr. Kale also stated that significant preparations are underway for liver transplantation, and that after the completion of the necessary infrastructure work, liver transplants will be able to be performed at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital in the near future.
Prof. Dr. Kale stated that organ donation is not only a medical procedure but also one of the most meaningful examples of solidarity that touches human lives, saying, “An organ donation means a new beginning for patients who have been waiting hopefully for years. Every citizen who donates their organs continues to live on in people they have never met. Strengthening awareness of organ donation in our society and keeping this issue constantly on the agenda will contribute to more patients regaining their health and more families looking to the future with hope again.”.
