Mumbai: In a landmark medical feat, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Bharat Shah, Dr. Pradeep Rao, Dr. Jitendra Jagtap, and Dr. Shruti Tapiawala at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, successfully performed the city’s first domino kidney transplant of the year. This extraordinary procedure involved six surgeries across three hospitals and cities, uniting three donors and three recipients in a synchronized chain to save lives.
Leveraging advanced immunosuppression and desensitization techniques, the domino transplant addressed the unique challenges of highly sensitized patients, marking a new milestone in renal transplantation.
Dr. Bharat Shah, Director - Renal Science at Gleneagles Hospital, remarked, “This achievement exemplifies the power of teamwork, precision, and innovation in modern medicine. With domino transplants, we are creating a life-saving ripple effect for patients who once had no options. It is a privilege to lead such groundbreaking efforts that transform lives.”
The Challenges Behind the Success
A domino transplant involves a chain of donors and recipients where each donor matches a different recipient, creating a life-saving chain. The procedure was essential for patients battling severe kidney failure and high sensitization levels:
- A patient from Hyderabad, with multiple donor-specific antibodies, faced rejection risks from all her relatives, including her husband and maternal uncle.
- A 17-year-old boy from Delhi, whose first transplant failed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to non-compliance with medications, required specialized care to overcome sensitization from his earlier transplant.
- A young girl, Rudrakshi, previously lost a kidney due to infection and faced additional challenges due to congenital abnormalities.
Months of rigorous HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) matching, cross-matching, and extensive counseling culminated in this life-saving procedure. On December 19th, three donors and three recipients underwent complex transplant surgeries lasting 18 hours.
Dr. Shruti Tapiawala, Consultant Nephrologist, highlighted, “Sensitized patients, often due to prior transplants, pregnancies, or blood transfusions, face immense difficulties finding compatible donors. Around 5-6% of our population seeking transplants are highly sensitized, with antibodies increasing the risk of rejection to 30-35%. Advanced techniques like desensitization and domino transplants are vital to overcoming these barriers.”
A Testament to Innovation and Teamwork
Dr. Pradeep Rao, Director – Urologist & Kidney transplant, explained, “Kidney transplants for sensitized patients often require solutions beyond traditional donor-patient matching. Paired exchange or domino transplants, though legally and logistically challenging in India, are game-changers for such cases. Without these options, many patients would remain on dialysis indefinitely.”
A Life-Saving Journey
One of the grateful recipients, a patient from Hyderabad, shared, “After years of waiting and failed attempts, I feel healthy and hopeful again. This would not have been possible without the expertise of Dr. Shruti Tapiawala and my nephrologist, Dr. Anuradha, who collaborated to make this miracle a reality. I am immensely thankful to the donor for their selfless act.”
Dr. Bipin Chevale, CEO of Gleneagles Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai, concluded, “This successful domino transplant is a testament to our hospital’s commitment to pushing boundaries in medical science. We are proud to be at the forefront, providing hope and healing to patients who had limited options.”
Gleneagles Hospitals continues to lead with innovation, offering life-changing solutions that redefine healthcare excellence.
