Discipline of Nephrology

About the Discipline

We provide clinical services to patients from the province of KwaZulu-Natal as well as the northern parts of the Eastern Cape province.

Inpatient Services

Ward A2 west in Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) is used to manage acute and chronic referral patients. It also has separate transplant cubicles as well as an 8 bedded cubicle for patients on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Dialysis Services

There are 4 haemodialysis units, situated in IALCH, King Edward VIII, Addington and Grey’s Hospitals. Registrar and consultant cover is provided in all units. The chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis clinic is held on Monday mornings at IALCH. A renal multidisciplinary meeting is held on Monday afternoons to discuss patient acceptance for the chronic renal programme.

Transplantation Service

The Transplant clinic is held at IALCH on Tuesday mornings.

Renal Clinics

A general renal clinic is held on Thursdays. Approximately 4 new patients are seen every week. A general renal clinic is held in King Edward Hospital every Friday.

Undergraduate Courses

The Department contributes fully to the undergraduate teaching programme of the Division of Medicine, with bedside teaching in both general medicine and nephrology, whole class resource sessions and participation in the PBL themes of the junior years.

Postgraduate Courses

Medical Registrars:

Regular participation in the academic meetings including the Monday academic meeting, Grand rounds and problem round
Basic science meeting held on Tuesday mornings as applicable to pure and applied basic sciences relevant to nephrology.
Presentations in the Renal Grand rounds held on Tuesday afternoons.
Friday morning departmental business rounds.

Renal Fellows:

Academic meetings on the first Monday of every month covering the Certificate of Nephrology syllabus. Journal club meetings held in conjunction with Basic science meetings on Tuesday.
Histology meetings held in conjunction with the Anatomical Pathology department.
We are currently in the process on recruiting a research fellow from the international society of Nephrology.

Weekly activities in the Department of Nephrology

Day	Time	Activities
Monday	08:00 - 09:00	Monday Morning Academic Meeting
	09:00	Prof Assounga handover Meeting with teaching of Registrars and Medical Officers ±30 mins. Followed by 30 mins Ward Problem Round, by Prof A. Assounga Follow by clinic with teaching support to Senior Registrars
	13:00	Multidisciplinary Team Meeting
	14:15	Formal Senior Registrar teaching (monthly)
Tuesday	09:00 - 11:00	Transplant Clinic – Teaching of Senior Registrars
	11:00 - 13:00	Grand Round Transplant Ward ICU / High CareA 2 West
	13:00 -14:00	Journal Club – Registrars/ Medical Officer presentation Medical school student teaching in the afternoon
Wednesday	12:15	Ward round in Haemodialysis Units / Addington Unit, St Aidan’s Hospital, IALCH Medical School duties (Prof A. Assounga) Ward round by Senior Registrars Grand Round – (Medical School) Procedures ( Kidney biopsies)
Thursday	08:30 - 09:00	Prof Assounga handover Meeting with teaching of Registrars and Medical Officers Followed by 30 mins Ward Problem Round (Dr S. Hariparshad) Followed by teaching renal clinic by Prof A. Assounga, Dr S. Hariparshad and Senior Registrars Research Protocol Teaching / Procedures
Friday	08:30 - 09:00	Prof Assounga handover Meeting with teaching of Registrars and Medical OfficersHaemodialysis units – Addington / St Aidan’s Hospital Ward Round
Friday	11:00	Followed by Business Rounds in IALCH A2 west, High Care and ICU ( Dr Hariparshad)Procedures.

Clinical Research

Clinical research activities are discussed after the multidisciplinary meetings on Monday. Currently there are research projects involving chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, transplantation and haemodialysis.

Basic Science Research

Basic science research is conducted at the Division of Medicine Research Laboratories at Medical School.

HIV Disease

Glomerulonephritides

Peritoneal Dialysis

Inherited Kidney Disease

Current Research Projects

Study of HIV Nephropathy in KwaZulu-Natal.
Study of immunonological memory and tolerance in Kidney transplant patients (proposal in preparation).
The use of ATP bioluminescence as a measure of immune function in renal transplant patients.

Outreach ActivitiesThe department of Nephrology is involved in outreached activities throughout the province. It assists hospitals in the establishment and support of renal services in KZN.

Staff

Prof.

Alain Assounga

Dr.

Sudesh Hariparshad

Dr.

SP Gumede

Dr.

Hassim Sakoor

Ms.

Naledi Ngwane

Mrs

Jane John

Contact Details

Name	Position	Contact Number
Prof. A. Assounga	HOD Nephrology, Chief Specialist	(031) 260 4441
Miss Naledi Ngwane	Administrator	UKZN (031) 260 4761
Mrs Jane John	Administrator	IALCH (031) 240 1235