Overview and History
The Department of Nephrology at Madinah Teaching Hospital (MTH) was established in January 2016 to meet the growing need for specialized kidney care. Recognizing the rising number of patients suffering from kidney disorders, this department was created to offer comprehensive nephrology services including both acute and chronic conditions. From its inception, the department has been committed to high quality patient care, medical education, and community outreach. mth.org.pk
Core Services and Patient Care
The department treats a wide array of kidney-related diseases. Patients with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, glomerular diseases, urinary tract infections, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, acid-base disorders, polycystic kidney disease, dialysis complications, and transplant dysfunction are all managed here. It operates an outpatient department twice a week for stable cases. Emergency services are available every day, with patients admitted to the hospital as needed—often in a high dependency unit when critical. Emergency dialysis is offered in both the dialysis unit and intensive care settings. For inpatients, consults are carried out daily by consultants, and complicated cases are handled with interdepartmental collaboration to ensure comprehensive care and timely decision-making. mth.org.pk
Dialysis and Special Procedures
The Nephrology department provides extensive dialysis services. Its hemodialysis unit is operational 24 hours and contains eighteen dialysis machines, with one separate machine dedicated exclusively for ICU use. Over a thousand dialysis sessions are performed each month. The unit features a high quality water treatment plant to ensure purity of water used in dialysis, and a portable treatment unit supports patients who cannot be moved from ICU to the dialysis unit (for example, ventilated patients). For patients requiring emergency dialysis without a functional arteriovenous fistula or graft, the department performs catheter insertions with a low complication rate. The department also offers ultrasound-guided kidney biopsies to diagnose unexplained kidney disease; results are often reviewed in coordination with histopathology for clinicopathological correlation. Poor patients receive a discounted rate to help them afford life-saving treatments. mth.org.pk
Academic and Training Mission
Beyond patient treatment, the Nephrology department plays a vital role in teaching and training medical personnel. It offers lectures and clinical classes on nephrology, fluid-electrolyte balance, and acid-base disorders to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Dialysis technician diploma students also receive both theory and hands-on training. The department believes that investing in education helps to extend quality nephrological care beyond MTH’s walls, benefiting broader communities. mth.org.pk
