New Delhi, 24 April (H.S.): AIIMS Raipur, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, achieved a significant milestone by performing its first Swap Kidney Transplant (KPT), becoming the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh and among newer AIIMS institutions to undertake this procedure. This advancement highlights the institute’s dedication to improving healthcare for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Swap Kidney Transplant is expected to enhance the number of transplants by 15%.

The National Organisation and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has endorsed the implementation of swap donor transplantation across all states and Union Territories to boost donor availability, launching a ‘one nation one swap transplant programme’ for better coordination.

In a Swap Transplant, a patient with an incompatible donor can exchange organ donors with another pair, allowing both to receive compatible kidneys. At AIIMS Raipur, two male patients, ages 39 and 41, from Bilaspur, who had been on dialysis for three years, underwent this process. Their wives were willing donors, but blood group incompatibility posed challenges. The transplant team coordinated a swap, enabling each recipient to receive a kidney from the other’s donor.

The successful surgery took place on March 15, 2025, and all four individuals are now recovering well in the Transplant ICU. This event showcases AIIMS Raipur’s expertise in advanced medical care and commitment to innovative treatment options for chronic kidney disease.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar