Polonnaruwa Kidney Hospital ready for more pediatric transplants

Colombo, May 26 (Daily Mirror) - The Polonnaruwa China–Sri Lanka Friendship Kidney Hospital says it is prepared to continue performing pediatric kidney transplants following the successful completion of its first such surgery, marking a significant milestone in the country’s nephrology services.

A 16-year-old boy underwent a successful kidney transplant on May 7 at the Polonnaruwa China-Sri Lanka Friendship Kidney Hospital, with the kidney donated by his father. Hospital officials confirmed that both the child and the donor are in good health and are making a full recovery.

The achievement, carried out under the guidance of the Health and Mass Media Ministry, is the first pediatric kidney transplant performed in a peripheral hospital outside of a children’s hospital in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a media briefing held today (26) at the hospital auditorium, Director of the facility Specialist Dr. Dilka Saranasinghe said the success demonstrated the institution’s capacity to deliver advanced transplant services.

She said that since its opening in 2021, the hospital has expanded its services in hemodialysis, nephrology care, and organ transplantation, and is now fully equipped to meet the needs of pediatric patients requiring kidney transplants.

“The success of this first live pediatric kidney transplant was made possible by the dedication of our entire medical and support staff,” she said, adding that families should approach the hospital without fear or hesitation for specialized care.

Pediatric nephrology specialist Dr. Venujaya Bandara said the milestone represents a major advancement in pediatric kidney care in Sri Lanka. He explained that congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract remain the leading cause of chronic kidney disease among children, and stressed the importance of early diagnosis and regular clinical follow-up.

He also said that dedicated pediatric kidney clinics have now been established across all provinces, enabling earlier detection and treatment of kidney-related conditions in children.

Vascular and transplant specialist Dr. Manujaya Godakandage described pediatric kidney transplantation as a highly complex procedure requiring advanced technical expertise. He said the successful completion of the surgery within two and a half to three hours reflected strong teamwork and clinical coordination.

“This was a technically demanding operation, but it was completed without complications due to the coordinated effort of the surgical team,” he said, noting that such services are currently offered only at a few major centres in the country.

Anaesthesiologist Dr. Jeevaka Kulathissa said careful pre-operative preparation of both donor and recipient was key to ensuring a safe procedure. He added that the dual surgeries were successfully managed as a coordinated team effort.

Hospital officials emphasized that with this success, the institution is now ready to expand pediatric kidney transplant services to meet growing demand across Sri Lanka.