Kidney transplants performed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 18

Kidney transplants performed

The fifth kidney transplant operation to be performed in Christchurch was carried out yesterday on a young woman in her twenties, who had been waiting in the Christchurch Hospital for some days for a suitable kidney.

The donor was a young Christchurch man, both of whose kidneys were used—one on the young woman, and the other on a young man in Dunedin.

The condition of the Christchurch recipient was reported late last evening to be satisfactory.

The first kidney transplant operation was carried out in Christchurch Hospital 150 days ago. The condition of that patient, and the four subsequent patients, was also satisfactory, said Dr P. J. Little, head of the renal department of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, last evening.

Yesterday’s operation was performed by the same team, headed by Mr W. L. F. Utley, which performed the other operations.

The Dunedin operation was the first carried out in that city. The kidney transplant team in the Dunedin Hospital was informed several days ago of an organ becoming available, and a prospective recipient was prepared, reports the Press Association from Dunedin. SENT BY AIR At 9 a.m. yesterday, advice was received from Christchurch that a kidney would be sent by air. A renal technician from the hospital went to Dunedin. Airport, in. a traffic officer’s car, and while the kidney was in transit, the patient was prepared. By the time the kidney, was prepared.

By the time the kidney, packed in a vacuum flask, reached the hospital the operation had reached the point at which immediate implantation was possible. Less than three hours and a half from the time the kidney had become available in Christchurch, it was beginning to function in the recipient.

All told, the operation took about four hours. The deputy medical superintendent of Dunedin Hospital (Dr R. R. Harvey) said yesterday afternoon that the patient was in a satisfactory condition.

“Although the Dunedin surgical team has been geared to perform a transplant for some time, it was not until today that a kidney suited to one of our patients became available,” Dr S. R. Dixon, the Otago Hospital Board renal physician, said.

“It is very satisfying and encouraging that Dunedin is now contributing to this aspect of renal work.” At present, there are five renal dialysis patients in Dunedin, each of whom is a candidate for a transplant. Liff