A successful renal transplantation (RT) service in Nepal was started at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) on 8^th August 2008, immediately after obtaining a license from the government. Previous efforts at RT in Nepal merely created the history, but the details of which are not known. Nepali law only permits the transplantation among close relatives, and potential kidney donor’s can be the father, mother, sister, brother, husband, wife, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, mother-in-law, father-in-law, step father / mother or adopted children. This strict legislation is to prevent the possible organ trade and foul play in procuring the organ.

In TUTH, 38 live related RT were performed till date. The mean age of donors was 46.7 years. Eighteen (47%) donations were from parents, 15 (39%) from spouse, 4 (11%) between siblings and 1 (3%) between mother and daughter in law. Although the left kidney was given preference, right sided donor nephrectomy was needed in 5(13%) cases.

Our preliminary results are very encouraging, although we have yet to see our long term outcomes. There have been two deaths (6%), although only one was related to the process of RT. No other kidneys have been lost. Additional necessary infrastructures and skilled manpower required for the transplant programme need to be developed further, so that the life saving programme will be continued, and more and more Nepalese people will benefit.

The transplant team

Transplanting a new kidney