King Abdulaziz University Kidney Transplant Program Ushers in a New Era of Hope with Groundbreaking Laparoscopic Surgery for 13-Year Old Patient

King Abdulaziz University has recorded a new medical achievement among university
hospitals in Saudi Arabia, as a multidisciplinary medical team successfully performed a
kidney transplant for a 13-year-old girl suffering from advanced kidney failure. The kidney
was donated by her mother, and the procedure marks a significant step forward in pediatric
transplant care.

The young patient had been closely monitored at the Center of Excellence in Pediatric
Kidney Care, where she was diagnosed with a rare congenital condition, bilateral renal
hypoplasia (underdeveloped kidneys), that led to a serious decline in kidney function.
Leveraging modern surgical technologies, the team used laparoscopic techniques to remove
the donor kidney through a previous surgical incision, a method chosen to minimize
postoperative pain and improve cosmetic outcomes. The transplant was performed
successfully, with no significant complications reported for either donor or recipient.

The significance of this achievement lies in its foundation: the culmination of three years of
strategic planning, involving the coordination of multiple medical specialties and the
application of the latest protocols for tissue matching and comprehensive health evaluation.
These measures were essential to ensuring the long-term success of the transplant and the
safety of the donor.

The university hospital is distinguished by its integrated system of highly qualified national
medical professionals, who managed the operation in full coordination, from pediatric and
adult nephrologists, transplant surgeons, and anesthesiologists to specialists in infectious
diseases, immunology, intensive care, radiology, pharmacy, and psychological support. This
positions the center as a national reference in treating complex kidney conditions.

Medical Team Members Included:
• Pediatric & Adult Nephrology:
Prof. Jamila Qari, Prof. Osama Safder, Dr. Abdulaziz Bahassan, Dr. Wafia Al-Abbasi

Dr. Abdullah Qashqari, Dr. Suhail Khoja
• Surgery:
Prof. Murad Al-Jefri, Dr. Abrar Nawawi, Dr. Abdulrahman Sabban
• Anesthesiology:
Dr. Ibrahim Abu Shousha, Dr. Ayman Attal
• Infectious Diseases:
Dr. Faten Basnawi, Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Sulami, Dr. Nada Al-Ahmadi
• Immunology:
Dr. Siddiq Habibullah, Dr. Hanaa Taha
• Intensive Care:
Dr. Mohammed Ghazi, Dr. Fidaa Maghrabi
• Radiology:
Dr. Rayan Oheid
• Pharmacy:
Prof. Hussein Bakhsh, Dr. Razan Al-Sheikh, Dr. Mohammed Batouq
• Psychological Support:
Ms. Samira Al-Darraj, Ms. Roweida Adani