LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — The credit of performing more than 500 kidney transplant operation within a period of six years with considerable success rate is amble proof of Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh’s ability as a kidney transplant surgeon. Not only this, he is one of the few urologists in India having such vast experience of kidney transplant besides having a busy schedule for urological operations. He is a urologist, transplant surgeon and andrologist. He is also a visiting fellow to the department of liver and kidney transplant, Adden Brook’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, UK.

At present he is Reader in the Department of Urology and Head of Transplant unit in DMCH, a premier institute of the country. On an average he performs 12-15 kidney transplant operations every month in the well equipped operation theatre of the DMCH. He has contributed many articles in national and international journals. He also keeps organising CMEs and conferences and has been quite active in the field of research. Recently, this renowned surgeon added another feather in the cap of the DMCH by making it the first medical college in Punjab to perform keyhole surgery for kidney stones . Following are the excepts of an interview with Dr Aulakh where he answered questions on various issues related to the kidney transplant and other urological problems common among people.

Q. Kidney transplant is generally considered as a very risky and expensive operation, is it true?

A. It is expensive but not risky at all in experienced hands. It costs approximately 1-1.5 lakh to the patient. With God’s grace I keep on operating at high risk patients with 100% surgical success rate.

Q. Can a patient lead a normal life after kidney transplant?

A. Yes, of course. In fact after kidney transplant patient can lead absolutely normal life and younger patient can have children which otherwise they can not. Wrong concepts or myths attached to kidney transplant should be removed.

Q. How will we come to know that a person is suffering from kidney failure and requires kidney transplant?

A. Usually, patient will have decreased urine output and generalized weakness. He may be suffering from high blood pressure, breathlessness, nausea, comiting and loss of appetite.

Q. Can it be avoided if problem is detected at an early stage?

A. Yes, correctable conditions like obstructive uropathies (congenital blockage, prostae enlargement, stones etc) if detected early and corrected, one can avoid kidney failure. Also high blood pressure and diabetes ( leading cause of kidney failure) should be well controlled.

Q. Who can be donor?

A. Donor can be cadaver (brain dead) or living (related or emotionally related). Living donor should be a healthy person between 20-65 years of age. We are trying to establish cadaveric transplant programme, where larger section of society can be benefitted .

Q. Who is a cadaver donor ?

A. Any person who is brain dead (specific scientific, criteria ) but whose heart is beating. He is practically dead but his/her organs can be used for needy patients.

Q. From where most of your patients for Kidney transplants are coming?