At the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Delhi, two kidneys taken from a brain-dead donor who was 78 years old were successfully transplanted into one recipient in a medical first. This amazing operation demonstrated not only the progress made in organ transplantation but also the urgent need for creative methods to deal with the increasing demand for organs in India’s healthcare system.
This remarkable twin kidney transplant has saved the life of a 51-year-old Delhi lady who had been on dialysis for almost five years. Her health and quality of life have significantly improved with the addition of these two new kidneys, one of which is her own. As a result, she now has four functioning kidneys.
An extra professor at the AIIMS surgery unit named Dr. Asuri Krishna clarified that the donor’s advanced age—she was over 60—was the reason for the choice to transplant both kidneys into a single recipient. Kidneys from donors who have passed away usually go to two distinct patients. However, a single kidney might not be enough for a patient in need of a transplant among older donors with impaired kidney function.
On December 22, the highly trained transplant team under the direction of Professor V Seenu and Dr. Sushant Soren executed a difficult surgery in which they stacked both of the recipient’s kidneys on the right side. The painstaking process, which took over three hours, demonstrated the skill and accuracy of AIIMS’s medical staff.
It is uncommon to perform dual kidney transplants, particularly from elderly donors whose kidneys are frequently judged unfit for transplantation. But this successful operation is a sign of optimism, showing how scarce resources may be made as good as possible in order to fulfill the nation’s enormous organ shortage.
Published research have indicated that survival rates for dual kidney transplantation grafts are similar to those for single kidney transplantation grafts. This strategy makes a substantial contribution to resolving India’s organ shortage issue by lowering the number of people on transplant waiting lists and avoiding the needless loss of potential organs.
Successful organ transplantation programs require coordination and synergy, as demonstrated by the joint efforts of the Department of Nephrology and Surgical Disciplines, led by Professor Dipankar Bhowmik and Dr. Sandeep Mahajan, the Organ Retrieval Banking Organization, which is led by Professor Arti Vij, and transplant coordinator Balram.
The unfortunate event that led to the 78-year-old woman’s admission to AIIMS Trauma Centre on December 19 due to a severe head injury sustained in a fall is where the story of this incredible medical feat started. They tried to resuscitate her, but she was deemed brain dead. But her family’s brave choice to approve organ donation transformed this tragedy into a chance to save other people’s lives and exemplified the spirit of compassion and giving in the medical field.
In addition to saving lives, the dual kidney transplant at AIIMS, Delhi, opens the door for future advancements in organ transplantation and gives hope to numerous people waiting for operations that could change their lives.
