Renal Transplant Program

The renal transplant program of the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo is an integrated venture between the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Surgery.

The program

The first renal transplant was performed in Sri Lanka by the Faculty of Medicine Kidney Transplant Program (FMKTP) in 1986. This was the first transplant program and still is the only such program in Sri Lanka. Todate, we have performed 205 live-related donor transplants. Patients who have had non-related live transplants in India are also followed up by the FMKTP. Our total transplant population exceeds 350.

This program does not undertake un-related live donor transplants for legal and ethical reasons. The necessary legislations (Human Tissues Act of 1987) for a cadaveric transplant program is now in place and we are on the verge of commencement of a cadaveric program. Brain death criteria have been worked out and the program awaits funding to start-off.

Survival

Our survival figures are compatible with those of the region. One-year, three-year and five-year patient survival has been 90%, 65% and 60% respectively. Infection and rejection has been the major causes of mortality and morbidity in our transplant patients. Another problem is the high incidence of diabetes and macrovascular disease in transplant recipients.

The FMKTP provides its services island-wide, and offers transplantation to all socio-economic classes. The program is supported by the President's Fund.

From its humble beginings, the FMKTP has progressed to a medium-sized transplant unit, with about 25 transplants per year. With the commencement of a cadaveric program we expect to make this service available to a greater number of needy patients.

SLANT

Sri Lanka Association of Nephrology and Transplantation has been keeping the CME program active for doctors and nurses. They have put out the Donor Cards to promote cardaveric organ donation.

KRF

Kidney Research Fund was set up as the main mechanism of Funcing for the patients and the program.

SLKPA

Setting up of the Sri Lanka Kidney Patients Association was promoted by our Department. SLKPA runs successfully a Medical Halfway Home for dialysis patients in Colombo which has been in existence for the last three years.