Kidney transplantation transforms lives of patients with end stage kidney failure. The main limiting factor in kidney transplantation is the lack of available organ. Although cadaver kidney donation (Deceased donor) happens in states like Tamil Nadu; most patients receive the kidney from close family members only (Live donor kidney transplantation).
In spite of having a family member as a potential kidney donor nearly 20-30% of the patients are not able to undergo transplantation from that particular donor due to two important issues. One is the donor and recipients are not blood group matched. The other reason being, is the positivity of cross match test.
Cross Match Test is done before any transplantation to assess whether the recipient’s immune system will accept the kidney from that particular donor or not. To have a successful transplantation the cross match test should be negative. If the cross match is positive we should not do transplantation from that particular donor and if we do, the recipient’s immune system will attack the transplanted kidney and damage the transplanted kidney.
Kidney Sharing Transplantation simply overcomes these two major hurdles. Kidney sharing or swapping means two or more families exchange the kidney with others who otherwise could not donate to their own family member due to either blood group mismatch or cross match positive.
KMCH had three members from three different families who had to undergo transplantation but were experiencing difficulties. The members suffered from cross-match positivity and blood group mismatch.
Hence Dr.V.Mangalkumar – kidney & Pancreas transplantation specialist proposed the kidney sharing options. They were suitably matched for their age, kidney function etc. Detailed immunological work up was done with the help of University of Birmingham, UK. Dr.V.Mangalkumar had arranged two-donor surgery team and a two-recipient surgery team to operate simultaneously on two donors and two recipients respectively.
The donors and recipients made good recovery and the donors were discharged on third day and the recipients were discharged after 7 days. They all enjoy normal kidney function.
This type of transplantation involving three donor and three recipient’s pair has been done for the first time in South India. This type of kidney sharing between families will make kidney transplantation less costly, safer as well as more accessible. This type for kidney sharing scheme will help those 20-30% patients to undergo transplantation who otherwise would not have had that opportunity.
Congratulating the doctors on this occasion, Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, Chairman, KMCH said that organ transplantation is a complex surgical procedure that requires highest level of expertise, care and dedication.