A nephrologist is a physician who specialises in the medical management of kidney diseases — conditions like CKD, AKI, glomerulonephritis, and dialysis. A urologist is a surgeon who treats conditions of the urinary tract and male reproductive system — including kidney stones, prostate enlargement, bladder disorders, and urological cancers. Many kidney patients need both. At KIMS Secunderabad, nephrologists and urologists work in the same institute and collaborate directly on complex cases — so you get the right doctor for your condition without being bounced between hospitals.

See a nephrologist if your blood test shows a raised creatinine or reduced eGFR; if there is protein or blood in your urine; if you have diabetes or high blood pressure and have never had your kidney function checked; if you have unexplained swelling in your legs or face; or if a family member has kidney disease. Early consultation — before symptoms appear — is the single most effective way to slow chronic kidney disease.

It depends on the cause and how quickly treatment begins. Acute kidney injury (AKI) — sudden kidney failure from infection, low blood pressure, or a toxic drug — often recovers fully with prompt treatment. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) — long-term damage from diabetes or hypertension — cannot be reversed, but its progression can be significantly slowed with specialist management. This is why early diagnosis and a nephrologist's care make such a profound difference.

Yes. KIMS Secunderabad is one of South India's most experienced kidney transplant centres, consistently rated among the nation's best. We perform live donor, deceased (cadaveric) donor, and ABO-incompatible (blood group mismatched) transplants, including paediatric kidney transplants. We are registered with NOTTO and the Telangana State Transplant Authority. With modern immunosuppression, a live donor kidney can function for 15 to 25 years or longer.

Most kidney stone procedures at KIMS are day-care or overnight. RIRS (for stones up to 2 cm) takes 45 to 90 minutes — most patients go home the same day or the next morning. Mini-PCNL (for larger stones) takes 1 to 2 hours with a 1 to 2 night stay. You will have a small ureteric stent for 2 to 4 weeks, removed in a quick outpatient appointment. Most patients return to desk work within 2 to 3 days.

Most dialysis patients find sessions comfortable once settled in. The initial needle insertion for vascular access causes brief discomfort — the dialysis itself is painless. You can read, watch TV, or rest during the session. Some patients experience mild leg cramps or a slight drop in blood pressure toward the end — both are manageable with adjustments to the session. Most patients adapt well within the first few weeks. Our dialysis nurses are with you throughout every session.

Some forms are. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common genetic kidney condition — if a parent has it, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it. Alport syndrome also has a hereditary component. Diabetic and hypertensive kidney disease are not directly inherited, but the underlying conditions — diabetes and high blood pressure — often run in families, creating an indirect hereditary risk. KIMS offers genetic counselling for families with known hereditary kidney conditions.

Yes. KIMS Secunderabad has a dedicated international patient team for kidney transplant, robotic surgery, stone treatment, and CKD management. We provide pre-arrival teleconsultation, medical visa assistance, accommodation guidance, airport coordination, language support, and structured tele-follow-up after you return home. Contact us at assistance@kimshospitals.com or +91 40 4488 5000. We respond within 24 hours.