AIIMS Raipur Successfully Completes First Swap Kidney Transplant

In a groundbreaking achievement, AIIMS Raipur has successfully performed its first Swap Kidney Transplant (also known as Kidney Paired Transplantation), becoming the first among the newer AIIMS institutions and the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh to carry out this complex, life-saving procedure. This milestone underscores the institution’s commitment to advancing healthcare and offering innovative solutions for patients battling end-stage kidney disease.

The Swap Kidney Transplant is a significant procedure where two kidney transplant recipients who have living but incompatible donors exchange donors to receive a compatible kidney. This process has been proven to increase the number of transplants by up to 15%. Recognizing its potential, the National Organisation and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has recommended implementing Swap Transplantation nationwide, to optimize donor availability and facilitate smoother organ exchanges across the country.

In a landmark case at AIIMS Raipur, two End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients from Bilaspur, aged 39 and 41, underwent this groundbreaking procedure. Both patients, who had been on dialysis for three years, were advised to get a kidney transplant, but their respective wives, who volunteered as living donors, had blood group incompatibilities. The transplant team at AIIMS Raipur successfully coordinated a swap transplant, where each donor gave their kidney to the other recipient, ensuring compatibility. The surgery was conducted on March 15, 2025, and all four individuals, both donors and recipients, are currently recovering well in the Transplant ICU.

The successful procedure was led by an experienced team, including Dr. Vinay Rathore (Transplant Physician), Dr. Amit R Sharma, Dr. Deepak Biswal, and Dr. Satyadeo Sharma (Transplant Surgeons), along with a skilled group of anesthesiologists, coordinators, and nursing staff.

AIIMS Raipur has been a pioneer in organ transplantation in the state. It became the first among the newer AIIMS to start Deceased Donor Organ Donation and Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation, and is also the first in Chhattisgarh to initiate Deceased Donor Paediatric Kidney Transplantation. In the last two years, the hospital has successfully facilitated six deceased donor organ donations.

Since its inception, AIIMS Raipur has performed 54 kidney transplants, achieving an impressive graft survival rate of 95% and a patient survival rate of 97%, reflecting the institution’s commitment to clinical excellence and high-quality patient care.

This achievement marks a major step forward for AIIMS Raipur as it continues to innovate and provide life-saving treatments to patients in need, making a significant impact on healthcare in the region.