In a significant medical achievement, AIIMS Raipur has successfully conducted its first swapped kidney transplant, the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh and the first among the new AIIMS centers to conduct this sophisticated yet life-saving surgery. This remarkable feat not only speaks of the increasing abilities of the institute but also opens up hope for thousands of patients with end-stage renal disease.
Based on the Union Health Ministry, this technique can raise India's kidney transplant rate by as much as 15%, an important increase in a nation where organ scarcity is still a big barrier.
Historic case at AIIMS Raipur
The first swap transplant at AIIMS Raipur involved two male patients from Bilaspur, aged 39 and 41, both suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and dependent on dialysis for over three years. Their wives had come forward as living donors, but unfortunately, their blood group incompatibility prevented direct donation.
In a well-coordinated effort, the transplant team at AIIMS Raipur arranged a donor swap between the two couples. Each wife donated her kidney to the other's husband, ensuring compatibility and successful transplantation for both patients. The surgery was performed on March 15, and according to the hospital, all four are recovering in the transplant ICU.
Setting an example for the nation
The success story has caught the attention of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). Recognizing the potential of swapping kidney transplants to increase donor availability, NOTTO has recommended that all states and union territories implement the swap transplant model. It aims to launch a "One Nation, One Swap Transplant Programme" to streamline and facilitate such procedures across the country.
AIIMS Raipur's ongoing commitment to organ transplantation
This is not the first time that AIIMS Raipur has set an example. The institute was also the first among the new AIIMS to start organ donation from deceased donors and paediatric kidney transplantation. So far, the hospital has performed 54 kidney transplants with an impressive graft survival rate of 95% and a patient survival rate of 97%.
AIIMS Raipur continues to solidify its reputation as a regional hub for advanced transplant care, combining medical innovation with compassionate patient care.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)
