Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S62. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-1801.

Kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 era in Myanmar

• Than KMM
• Pyar KP
• Aye T

• KMID: 2535480
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-1801

Abstract

Background
Kidney transplantation, although widely available nowadays, still need adequate resources, trained personnel and expertise to be successful. In the era of COVID-19 pandemic with its risks and limitations, performing a successful transplanta-tion can be challenging, especially for a developing country like Myanmar.
Methods
The kidney transplant cases (mostly live-related) done at four government hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 January to 2022 August) were studied. All these cases were managed by a core group (led by the three principal authors and consist of urologists, nephrologists, anesthetists, vascular surgeons, OT and ICU nurses) together with personnel from the respective hospitals. The COVID-19 protocols (mandatory PCR testing of both recipient & donor with strict isolation measures) and the transplant protocols of each hospital were followed.
Results
A total of 63 cases from the four hospitals were reviewed, and there was only one (1.6%) death. This patient developed sepsis, acute tubular necrosis and cell-mediated rejection, and expired after 45 days in spite of the extensive treatment given. Eight (12.7%) patients developed complications as shown in the table.
Conclusions
Although these transplants were performed during the COVID-19 era in four different hospitals, the outcomes were comparable with the results from our previous cases. Still, there are lessons to be learnt and room for improvement to reduce the morbidity and mortality.