AIIMS Raipur performs Chhattisgarh’s 1st swap kidney transplant

Raipur: In a landmark medical feat, AIIMS Raipur has become the first among the newer AIIMS institutes and the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh to successfully perform a Swap Kidney Transplant, also known as Kidney Paired Donation (KPD). This achievement marks a major step forward in advanced renal care for the region.
Swap transplants are designed for patients with willing but incompatible kidney donors—due to mismatched blood types or HLA antibodies—by pairing them with another incompatible duo. The donor from each pair gives a kidney to the recipient from the other pair, ensuring compatibility and successful transplantation.
In this case, two patients from Bilaspur, aged 39 and 41, had been on dialysis for three years. Their wives offered to donate kidneys but were found incompatible. However, a successful swap was arranged: the first pair had blood groups B+ and O+, and the second O+ and B+. The surgeries took place on March 15, 2025, and all four individuals are recovering well under close supervision in the Transplant ICU.
Dr Vinay Rathore said that nearly half of potential kidney donors are rejected due to incompatibility. He stated, "Swap transplants are a lifeline for patients who have willing but incompatible donors. Timely transplant offers improved survival and quality of life than dialysis for ESRD patients. A meticulous matching and planning is required for the swap transplant. It also requires special approval from SOTTO, Chhattisgarh, and is permitted only between close relatives of the patient. NOTTO recently directed all states on 16 April 2025, to implement swap organ transplants so that the benefits of transplant can reach those patients who face biological incompatibility with their prospective donor".
Dr Amit Sharma, HoD of Urology, highlighted the complexity of such surgeries. Unlike standard transplants, swap procedures demand months of coordination and the simultaneous operation of four OTs with dedicated teams to prevent donor withdrawal.
The multidisciplinary team included Drs. Vinay Rathore, Amit R Sharma, Deepak Biswal, Satyadeo Sharma, Subrat Singha, Mayank, Jitendra, and Sarita Ramchandani.
Lt Gen Ashok Jindal (Retd), Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Raipur, lauded and congratulated the team for this pioneering effort, especially amid the scarcity of nephrologists and urologists. He also announced the upcoming inauguration of a 20-bed Renal Transplant Unit to further strengthen advanced kidney care in the state. He appealed to patients to approach AIIMS Raipur primarily for treatments not available at smaller centres, to help manage patient load and ensure focused specialist care.