Mumbai Witnessed First India-Tanzania Swap Kidney Transplant at Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital

• Swap kidney transplants are an exchange of kidneys between two incompatible pairs, ensuring each recipient obtains a compatible kidney. It minimizes the risk of rejection and enhances overall clinical outcomes.
• Swap transplants have been legalized in India since 2006. Hundreds of swap transplants have been done since then.
• Mumbai witnessed its second international swap kidney transplant and first India-Tanzania swap on Dec 4, 2023. 
• 58-year-old Francisca Zacharia from Tanzania traveled to Ahmedabad, seeking treatment for stage five chronic kidney disease (CKD). She was informed the only way to manage her condition is a kidney transplant.
• For a second opinion she went to Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai. She was given similar advice to undergo a kidney transplant. Her 32-year-old son wished to donate his kidney. After running various tests and thorough investigations, it was discovered that he and his mother were incompatible for the transplant. They had differences in blood groups.
• The news came out as a setback for them but Dr. Jatin Kothari counseled them and told them about the possibilities of swap transplant. He got them registered at the Apex Swap Transplant Registry.
• Sheela Chainani, a 57-year-old was identified as a compatible match at Sushrut Hospital, Chembur. She was also diagnosed with stage five CKD and had been undergoing dialysis for two years. Her 30-year-old son, Aditya, was not a compatible donor for his mother and was also registered in the Apex Swap Transplant Registry.
• After taking the patient’s consent and confirming compatibility, both hospitals started the documentation and interview process. The application also underwent scrutiny at the State Authorisation Committee led by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).
• Once the hospitals received approval from the DMER, the swap transplants were carried out on December 4. Francisca’s kidney transplant, with Aditya as the donor, was carried out at Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital. Simultaneously, Sheela underwent the transplant surgery at Sushrut Hospital, and received a kidney from Francisca’s son.
• Both the surgeries were successful and the patients have been discharged without complications.

Source: Times of India