Ten-year experience with 500 renal transplants

Renal transplantation at the Kuwait University Medical Center began in 1979. Since that time, the program has rapidly developed to become one of the largest single multi-organ transplant centers in the Middle East. By May 1990, some 560 renal transplants and several pancreas and bone marrow grafts were carried out at the Center. With the development of the transplant activity a large self-contained and purposely built transplant center — The Hamed Al-Essa Organ Transplant Center, with 36 beds and all laboratory and other support facilities — was opened in 1988. All current transplant activity takes place at this center which is also a major referral center for many patients from neighboring Arab countries for renal transplantation which are performed free, as part of the health aid given by the Government of Kuwait to the less privileged Arab countries.