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Video: Dubai doctors remove worlds largest kidney from Emirati

Dubai - These kidneys are double the size of the earlier world's heaviest kidney

Earning Dubai a Guinness World Record, the doctors in Dubai have removed the world's largest kidney weighing 4.2 kilogrammes (4,250 grammes) from an Emirati patient.

Both the over-sized kidneys of Ahmad Saeed, 57, were removed in a surgery six months ago, but only the right one made it to the Guinness World Records.

The right kidney when removed weighed 6.95 kilogrammes (34x17cm) while the left kidney weighed 6.10 kilogrammes (31x18cm). A normal kidney weighs 150 grammes (12x6cm).

Supplied photo

These kidneys are double the size of the earlier world's heaviest kidney that weighed 2.1 kilogrammes.

Ahmed, who has a history of hypertension, suffered from adult polycystic kidney disease which lead to the abnormal growth of kidneys. He had non-functioning kidneys since 2014 and had been on hemodialysis since the same year. Currently, Ahmed is awaiting a transplant.

"An ultrasound and CT scan confirmed the huge kidneys," said Dr Fariborz Bagheri, Head of Urology Department at Dubai Hospital who performed the surgery to remove the kidneys and also submitted an application to Guinness World Records to have the kidneys evaluated.

Supplied photo

Farhat, the 16-year-old son of Dr Fariborz is the one who suggested to his father during a random conversation that the kidney should be given to Guinness, also submitted the application forms.

"We were not aware that we needed to take a video and photo evidence of the specimen while on a scale so we did not record anything," said Dr Fariborz.

He also said that a few months had already passed since the surgery. "Luckily, we still had the specimen in the lab and we filmed and photographed and sent it across to Guinness," he said.

The record was attained, after months of data verification by the Guinness World Records.

Dr Fariborz, who led the surgery, removed the two kidneys during a five-hour surgery on October 11, 2016. Despite the shrinkage, it was found that one of the kidneys still broke the previous record of 2.14 kilogrammes.

Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said that achieving this record is a reflection of the capabilities of Dubai Hospital in conducting complicated surgeries.

Dubai Hospital has also previously succeeded in conducting the first-of-its kind surgery in the country to remove a tumor using 3Dprinting technology.

Dr Abdul Rahman Al Jasmi the CEO of Dubai Hospital said that Dubai Hospital succeeded in beating the previous record which shows how rare the case was and why it deserves to be documented by the global authority on breaking records.

Dr Fariborz said the patient's kidneys expanded because he was suffering from polycystic kidneys from birth and had a distended abdomen but was not aware of it as this genetic disorder causes the growth of several cysts on the kidney. In Saeed's case, the kidney's growing size was compressing all his internal organs.

"We had recommended the removal of the kidneys a few years ago, however due to potential complications of the operation, the patient was reluctant until his general health condition deteriorated with difficulty in walking and breathing due to severely enlarged abdomen. Eventually, in October 2016, the patient accepted to undergo the recommended operation," said the doctor.

Dr Fariborz explained that while kidney removal surgeries are considered routine procedures in the urology field, the removal of kidneys of this size is extremely challenging and delicate.

"Now, we are delighted to be recognized by Guinness World Records. This acknowledgement is not only impressive for the Urology Department at Dubai Hospital, but also for the DHA and its patients", he added.

When asked how the patient was functioning without both of his kidney's, Dr Bagheri said the patient's kidneys had not been functioning for at least two years before the surgery and his hemodialysis was started then.

Commenting on the record, Talal Omar, Head of Guinness World Records' Dubai-based office said: "We have spent many months studying the extremely complex medical records and now that the assessment is complete, Guinness World Records is happy to announce that the record title of the 'Largest Kidney' is now official." As the leading global authority on record breaking, we want to challenge the way people and brands view themselves. We believe in offering record breaking ideas for everyone, everywhere and will continue to seek out new and exciting records in the UAE - a market that has no dearth of creative ideas and inspiration."

Saeed who attended the press conference said that while he was initially hesitant to get the surgery done, he couldn't be happier after the success of the surgery.

"I am back to normal, I can move, I can jump and I can run. No one believes that both of my kidneys have been removed. Before the surgery I had problems breathing because and even moving. I would like to thank Dubai Hospital's staff for my life changing surgery," he said.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com