29 November, 2022

The Clínic reaches the milestone of 200 kidney transplants in one year

Clínic Barcelona is a reference centre in Catalonia and Spain in terms of kidney transplant. Proof of this is the new record achieved this November when the unit managed to reach 200 kidney transplants in one year. This figure, which represents a unique milestone in Catalonia, has been confirmed by the Organización Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT) and has been achieved from the beginning of this year to the present.

THE RECORD OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS IN ONE YEAR, A TEAM EFFORT

To achieve this record number of 200 kidney transplants in one year, a great multidisciplinary effort has been necessary, in which the Urology Service, led by Dr Antonio Alcaraz, of the Nephrology Service, led by Dr Esteban Poch, and the Kidney trasplant Section, in charge of Dr. Fritz Diekmann. The important work of all the hospital personnel involved, such as the Transplant Donation and Coordination Section, the nursing group, TCAE, etc., must not be forgotten either.

“Hemos alcanzado un hito en la historia del Clínic al haber llegado a los 200 trasplantes renales en un año por primera vez. Estoy orgulloso del equipo de cirujanos que dirijo, así como del resto de profesionales indispensables para poder llevar a cabo una operación tan compleja como es un trasplante renal. Y por supuesto gracias a los donantes y a los propios pacientes por su confianza en nosotros”, señaló el Dr. Antonio Alcaraz, jefe del Servicio de Urología y Trasplante de Riñón del Hospital Clínic y profesional de barnaclínic+.

WHAT IS A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT?

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney, obtained from a living or dead donor, is implanted in a patient with end-stage chronic kidney disease. The removal of the organ can be through an incision at the level of the navel or lower abdomen or, in the case of women, through an incision in the vaginal vault.

The use of robotic surgery in kidney transplants has numerous advantages since, although it is performed at the same time as open surgery, it minimises complications, prevents abdominal wall infections, and the appearance of hernias, and favours rapid recovery of the transplant patient. Robotic surgery in this type of transplant has made it possible to introduce this minimally invasive surgery in fragile patients with end-stage renal failure.

· The team of Dr. Antonio Alcaraz combines robotic and NOTES surgery to perform a kidney transplant

FIRST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SECTION OF CATALONIA WITH ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFICATION

The Kidney Transplant Section of the Clínic Barcelona has not only managed to surpass the record of 200 kidney transplants in one year, but it has also become the first section in Catalonia to obtain the ISO UNE-En ISO 9001:2015 certification by AENOR.

The working group was made up of kidney transplant specialists from the Nephrology and Urology services, pancreas surgery specialists, anaesthesiology specialists, nurses and TCAE with the support of the Clinical Quality and Safety Department of the Clínic Barcelona. Other service professionals have also participated: administrative staff from the different areas and managers of the kidney transplant waiting list, psychologist, social worker, dietician-nutritionist, cleaning staff, etc.

The ICNU is committed to quality care, in line with the hospital’s tradition, obtaining the first ISO 9001 certification in Haemodialysis (2013), later in Peritoneal Dialysis (2016), and, recently, with the ACERCA accreditation of the Consultation of Chronic Kidney Disease. The certification of the Kidney Transplant Section, with a track record of more than 50 years, confirms this position in favour of continuous improvement.

“The commitment to quality has always been one of the pillars of the renal and pancreatic transplant programs at our hospital, and with the accreditation in the ISO 9001:2015 standard we have been able to take a very important step to systematise continuous improvement”, explains Dr Fritz Diekmann, Head of the Kidney Transplant Section at Clínic Barcelona and a barnaclínic+ professional.

“The commitment to quality has always been one of the pillars of the renal and pancreatic transplant programs at our hospital, and with the accreditation in the ISO 9001:2015 standard we have been able to take a very important step to systematise continuous improvement”

Dr Fritz Diekmann, Head of the Kidney Transplant Section at Clínic Barcelona and a barnaclínic+ professional

The Quality Certification of the Kidney Transplant Section by the UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015 standard includes in its scope all types of transplants that are currently performed: kidney transplant from a living donor (compatible, incompatible and crossover), donor cadaveric, combined (reno-pancreatic, hepatorenal, and heart-kidney) and isolated pancreas transplant.