What if someone is dying due to kidney failure? Of course, the patient’s near and dear ones will help by donating kidney. But, what if there is no match available?
Well, this was the scenario confronted by doors at Pushpawati Singhania Hospital and Research Institute in South Delhi. The three couples landed at the hospital for kidney transplants. The wives were willing to donate their organs, but tests proved them incompatible. But, what comes next was really surprising. Doctors discovered that three women can separately donate kidneys to the three men. The situation was explained to the couples, and once the six agreed the transplants were carried.
Patient Ajay Shukla was diagnosed with kidney failure in March; Md Umar Yusuf learned about his failing kidney when he got a medical certificate to avail work visa for Dubai. The third recipient, Kamlesh Mandal had tried to get a live donor or cadaver donor.
“Conducting three transplant operations simultaneously wasn’t easy proposition. Five operation theatres were reserved for this. This involved retrieving the kidneys from donors and transplanting them into three recipients”, said Dr. PP Singh, director and head of kidney transplant surgery at PSRI. Adding further, he explained why it was concurrent operation, “What if other donor backed out later or developed health issues? There are 5% chances of graft rejection. In such cases, the other donors would feel cheated.”
Seven surgeons, 6 anesthetists, 18 staff nurses and 20 OT technicians started the operation around 7 AM and wrapped up around 10 PM. Transplants were successful and all six donors and recipients are discharged.