About the Institute
Kidney disease changes lives. At SIMS Institute of Renal Sciences, Chennai, we understand that deeply and everything we do is built around giving every patient the best possible chance at reclaiming normal life.
What makes SIMS different is the way decisions are made here. This is an institute-based model of care, which means no single specialist makes a call in isolation. Complex cases are reviewed by a team. Treatment plans are built around the individual patient their age, their lifestyle, their comorbidities, their goals not around a standard protocol. It is a level of thoughtfulness that patients notice from the very first consultation, and it is what consistently delivers outstanding outcomes for some of the most difficult kidney cases referred to us from across Tamil Nadu, South India, and beyond.
The institute brings together Urology, Nephrology, and Renal Transplantation under one roof with over 300 successful kidney transplants to its name, a fully equipped 30-bedded dedicated dialysis unit, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) for critically ill patients, and the full spectrum of advanced endourology, laparoscopic surgery, interventional nephrology, and transplant medicine. Whether a patient is in the early stages of chronic kidney disease, managing end-stage renal failure on dialysis, or ready for transplantation, SIMS has the expertise, the technology, and the genuine commitment to see them through every step of that journey.
Key Highlights
- Over 300 successful kidney transplants reflecting deep surgical and medical expertise built over years of high-volume transplant practice
- 30-bedded dedicated dialysis unit offering the complete range of extracorporeal kidney replacement therapies
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury requiring ICU-level renal support
- Complete urology programme covering all endourological procedures, laser surgery for stones and prostate, advanced laparoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy
- ABO-incompatible (ABOi) and sensitised kidney transplantation for patients who would otherwise face long waits or be turned away
- Paediatric kidney transplantation and paediatric urology with age-appropriate expertise and family-centred care
- Transplantation for patients with lower urinary tract problems complex cases that many centres decline, managed with full multidisciplinary support
- Living donor and deceased donor transplant programmes with established pathways and strong outcomes
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and laser lithotripsy for advanced and complex stone disease
- Laser TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia with reduced bleeding and faster recovery
- Dedicated female urology and reconstructive urology services for conditions that are often underserved
- Interventional nephrology including tunnelled catheter placement, AVF angioplasty, and central vein venoplasty
- Institute-based multidisciplinary decision-making ensuring individualised, expert-led care for every patient
Comprehensive Services
Urology
- Endourology and Stone Disease- The department offers the full range of endourological procedures for kidney stones, ureteric stones, and bladder conditions. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is available for large and complex stones, while laser lithotripsy delivers precise, minimally invasive fragmentation and clearance with excellent stone-free rates and minimal hospital stay. Patients do not have to live with the pain and recurrence of untreated stone disease when these options are available to them.
- Laser Urology- Advanced laser technology is used at SIMS for both stone disease and prostate conditions. Laser TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) gives patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) a safer, more precise surgical option with significantly reduced bleeding risk and a faster return to normal urinary function compared to conventional surgery.
- Advanced Laparoscopic Urological Surgery- The department performs minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery across the full spectrum of urological conditions, covering both ablative procedures such as nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy, and reconstructive procedures aimed at restoring normal urinary tract anatomy and function. Patients benefit from keyhole surgical precision with smaller incisions, less pain, and quicker recovery.
- Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy- For patients with prostate cancer, robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy at SIMS combines the precision of robotic technology with the experience of a high-volume surgical team. The goal is always to maximise cancer control while preserving urinary continence and sexual function wherever clinically possible.
- Kidney Transplant Surgery- The urological arm of the transplant programme at SIMS handles the surgical aspects of kidney transplantation, including complex reconstructive cases involving lower urinary tract abnormalities that would be declined at many other centres.
- Paediatric Urology- Children with urological conditions need specialists who understand both the technical demands of paediatric surgery and the emotional reality for families. The paediatric urology programme at SIMS manages conditions including ureteropelvic junction obstruction, vesicoureteric reflux, hypospadias, undescended testes, and paediatric stone disease using age-appropriate techniques and a family-centred approach.
- Female Urology- Urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, recurrent urinary tract infections, and urethral disorders significantly affect the quality of life of many women, yet are often not given the specialist attention they deserve. The female urology programme at SIMS addresses this gap with dedicated expertise, sensitivity, and a full range of treatment options.
- Reconstructive Urology- Patients with urethral strictures, traumatic urinary tract injuries, prior failed surgeries, or complex congenital abnormalities often feel they have run out of options. The reconstructive urology programme at SIMS exists specifically for these patients, offering advanced surgical reconstruction to restore urinary tract function and quality of life.
Nephrology
- Interventional Nephrology- Reliable dialysis access is not optional for dialysis patients it is a lifeline. The interventional nephrology team at SIMS ensures that patients have and maintain functional vascular access through tunnelled catheter placement for dialysis, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) angioplasty to restore failing access, and central vein venoplasty for central venous stenosis. These procedures are performed by nephrology specialists with dedicated expertise in access management.
- Clinical Nephrology- The clinical nephrology service manages the full range of kidney diseases from early diagnosis through to end-stage disease, covering primary glomerular diseases, hypertension-related kidney damage, chronic kidney disease (CKD) at all stages, diabetic nephropathy, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Renal biopsy is performed when precise histological diagnosis is needed to guide treatment, with full histopathology, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy support.
- Dialysis- The 30-bedded dedicated dialysis unit at SIMS offers every form of extracorporeal renal replacement therapy available, ensuring that each patient receives the modality that best fits their clinical situation and lifestyle. Services include haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, haemodiafiltration, plasmapheresis, haemoadsorption, haemoperfusion, and Chronic Kidney Replacement Therapy (CKRT). No patient should be limited by what a dialysis unit can offer, and at SIMS, they are not.
- Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)- For the most critically ill patients in the intensive care unit with severe acute kidney injury, CRRT provides continuous, gentle kidney support that is far better tolerated than conventional intermittent haemodialysis in haemodynamically unstable patients. This is high-acuity renal care delivered by specialists who manage renal emergencies at the most complex end of the spectrum.
Transplantation
- Living Donor Kidney Transplantation- Transplantation from a living donor remains the gold standard in kidney transplantation, offering the best outcomes, planned timing, and the opportunity to optimise both donor and recipient before surgery. With over 300 successful kidney transplants performed at SIMS, the programme has a track record that speaks for itself.
- Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation- SIMS participates actively in the deceased donor transplant programme, giving patients on the waiting list access to life-saving transplantation from cadaveric donors. The speed, coordination, and clinical expertise required for deceased donor transplantation are well-established within the SIMS transplant team.
- ABO-Incompatible (ABOi) and Sensitised Transplantation- Blood group incompatibility or high levels of pre-formed antibodies can make transplantation seem impossible. At SIMS, it is not. ABOi and sensitised transplantation is performed using specialist desensitisation protocols, opening the pathway to transplantation for patients who would otherwise face years of waiting or no transplant at all.
- Paediatric Kidney Transplantation- A successful kidney transplant can transform the entire trajectory of a child's life. The SIMS paediatric transplant programme delivers transplantation for children with end-stage kidney disease using age-appropriate surgical techniques, paediatric-specific immunosuppression protocols, and a care team that understands the unique developmental, emotional, and medical needs of young patients.
- Transplantation with Lower Urinary Tract Problems- Patients with bladder dysfunction, urethral abnormalities, or complex lower urinary tract conditions are often turned away from transplant programmes because of the additional complexity involved. At SIMS, these patients are not turned away. The combined urology-nephrology transplant team has the expertise to assess, prepare, and successfully transplant patients with difficult urological histories, giving them a genuine pathway to kidney transplantation.
Advanced Diagnostic & Treatment Facilities
Diagnostics
- Comprehensive renal function testing including serum creatinine, eGFR, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, urine microalbumin, and electrolyte panels
- Renal biopsy with full histopathology, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy for precise kidney disease diagnosis
- Transplant immunology workup including HLA typing, crossmatch testing, panel reactive antibody (PRA) screening, and donor-specific antibody (DSA) assessment
- Renal and urological imaging including ultrasound with Doppler, CT urogram, MRI urogram, nuclear medicine renal scans (DTPA, DMSA), and MAG3 renography
- Urodynamic studies for bladder function assessment in female urology and reconstructive urology planning
- Vascular access assessment with duplex Doppler ultrasound for AVF maturation surveillance and intervention planning
- Endoscopic diagnostic evaluation including cystoscopy, ureteroscopy, and nephroscopy
Treatment
- Full endourology suite with PCNL, ureteroscopy, and laser lithotripsy for kidney and ureteric stone disease
- Laser TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia with precision tissue removal and reduced bleeding
- Advanced laparoscopic urological surgery covering ablative and reconstructive procedures
- Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy with nerve-sparing technique for prostate cancer
- 30-bedded dedicated dialysis unit with full extracorporeal therapy capability across all modalities
- CRRT for ICU-level acute kidney injury management in critically ill patients
- Interventional nephrology procedures including tunnelled catheter insertion, AVF angioplasty, and central vein venoplasty
- Complete renal transplant programme covering living donor, deceased donor, ABOi, sensitised, paediatric, and complex urological cases
- Plasmapheresis and haemoadsorption for immunological and toxicological indications
- Peritoneal dialysis programme with patient training and home dialysis support
Doctors
Urology
Nephrology
