AIIMS Raipur performs swap transplant of kidneys

RAIPUR,CG(INDIA): AIIMS Raipur has successfully performed its first kidney paired donation (swap transplant), becoming the first among the newer AIIMS institutions and the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh to carry out this complex procedure. This major achievement is a step forward in offering advanced medical solutions for patients with chronic kidney disease.

Kidney paired donation (KPD), or swap transplant, is a technique used when a patient has a willing donor but the donor’s blood group or antibodies are not compatible. In such cases, two incompatible donor-recipient pairs can exchange kidneys, allowing both patients to receive compatible organs. According to estimates, this method can increase kidney transplant rates by 15%, and national health bodies like NOTTO have encouraged states and union territories to adopt it under a unified program.

In the case, two men from Bilaspur, aged 39 and 41, had been on dialysis for three years. Their wives offered to donate kidneys, but due to incompatible blood groups, the transplants could not proceed as planned. The first couple had B+ and O+ blood groups, and the second had O+ and B+. Since the wives couldn't donate to their husbands directly, doctors arranged for a swap transplant where each wife donated her kidney to the other's husband. The surgery was carried out on 15 March 2025, and all four patients are currently recovering in the transplant ICU.

Dr. Vinay Rathore explained that around 15–20% of kidney donors are rejected due to incompatibility. Swap transplants provide a valuable alternative for such cases and offer better outcomes than continued dialysis. However, these transplants require special approval from SOTTO and can only be done between close relatives.

Dr. Amit Sharma, head of Urology, said organizing a swap transplant is much more complex than a standard procedure. It involved coordinating four operation theatres, four anesthetists, and four surgeons to work at the same time to prevent any last-minute withdrawal by donors.

The transplant team was led by Dr. Rathore and Dr. Sharma, along with a dedicated group of surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and transplant coordinators. Lt Gen Ashok Jindal, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Raipur, praised the team for their outstanding work despite limited resources. He also mentioned that a new 20-bed renal transplant facility is under construction to expand services further.

AIIMS Raipur has been a key player in organ transplantation in the state and has already completed 54 kidney transplants with high success rates.