First: Delhi AIIMS performs dual kidney transplant on 51-year-old patient

New Delhi: In a groundbreaking medical feat, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has successfully conducted a dual kidney transplant on a patient who was on dialysis, marking a significant milestone in the field of organ transplantation.

The transplant, carried out by the collaborative efforts of the AIIMS' Department of Surgical Disciplines and Department of Nephrology in conjunction with the Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO), showcased the hospital's expertise and commitment to advancing medical care.

The donor, a 78-year-old woman, tragically succumbed to a severe head injury sustained from a fall and was declared brain dead upon admission to AIIMS' Trauma Centre on December 19. Despite the adversity, her family demonstrated immense generosity by consenting to organ donation, thereby offering hope to those in dire need.

"The challenge was that because of her extreme age, her single kidney would not have been sufficient for a patient on dialysis. Therefore, a decision was taken to use both the kidneys in a single recipient," Krishna said. The recipient was a 51-year-old woman on dialysis, reports PTI.

"She urgently needed a kidney," he said.

The recipient, a 51-year-old woman underwent the transformative surgery on December 22, 2023, under the skilled hands of AIIMS' transplant team. Despite the intricate nature of the procedure, which involved placing both kidneys on the right side of the recipient, the surgery was a resounding success.

"The procedure was complex because we had to place two kidneys in a restricted area. Usually, one kidney is transplanted," Krishna said and added that the recipient had an uneventful recovery with both the kidneys performing well following the surgery.

"This one-of-a-kind surgery is a great example of using limited resources to bridge the huge demand and supply gap that exists for organs in India by using the organs from an elderly donor which usually would have been rejected," he said.

The patient has been on follow-up since the surgery took place. She was discharged within three weeks of being operated, Dr Krishna said.

"We wanted to ensure the patient is doing well before reporting this dual transplant in the media," the doctor said.

With the patient's well-being at the forefront, AIIMS Delhi remains steadfast in its mission to deliver exemplary healthcare services and pioneer groundbreaking medical advancements that benefit patients both nationally and internationally.