Patients awaiting a kidney transplant now have a new hope, thanks to a groundbreaking achievement by AIIMS Raipur in the healthcare field. The hospital has successfully completed its first Swap Kidney Transplant (also known as Kidney Paired Transplant or KPT), making it the first among the newer AIIMS institutions and the first in Chhattisgarh to perform this complex and life-saving procedure.

What is a Swap Kidney transplant?

A Swap Kidney Transplant is a procedure that provides hope for patients with kidney failure who have a willing living donor but cannot receive the kidney due to blood group mismatches or the presence of HLA antibodies.

Due to this innovative process, incompatible donor-recipient pairs can swap their kidneys, allowing both recipients to receive compatible organs and improving the chances of successful transplants.

This method addresses a critical challenge in kidney transplants, increasing the likelihood of successful surgeries for patients who might otherwise have to wait much longer for compatible kidneys.

Boosting kidney transplants in India

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Swap Kidney Transplants are expected to increase the number of transplants by 15%. This could reduce waiting times for patients and improve the overall kidney transplant success rate.

The success of the Swap Kidney Transplant at AIIMS Raipur was made possible by a skilled team of professionals. The team included Dr. Vinay Rathore (Transplant Physician), Dr. Amit R Sharma, Dr. Deepak Biswal, and Dr. Satyadeo Sharma (Transplant Surgeons). It also featured Dr. Subrat Singha, Dr. Mayank, Dr. Jitendra, and Dr. Sarita Ramchandani (Anaesthesiologists), along with a dedicated group of transplant coordinators, OT staff, and nurses.

Given the promising outcomes of this procedure, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has recommended that Swap Kidney Transplants be implemented in all states and Union Territories. This approach could increase the number of donors and help more patients access life-saving kidney transplants.

NOTTO has also decided to create a ‘uniform one nation, one swap transplant programme’, aimed at making this life-saving option more accessible and efficient across the country.



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