J&K: SKIMS performs first-ever swap kidney transplant, creates hope for patients

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 22 (ANI): The Department of Urology and Kidney Transplant at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) marked a groundbreaking achievement on Friday by successfully conducting the first-ever Swap Kidney Transplant in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Director SKIMS and EOSG, Prof Parvaiz Ahmad Koul complimented Prof Saleem Wani, HOD Urology and KTU and associate departments for this significant achievement.

While speaking about the achievement, Prof Parvaiz Ahmad Koul said, “This is a major milestone set in kidney transplantation. With successful swap kidney transplants, SKIMS has set the ball rolling for enhancing the donor pool and countering organ shortages, which is a significant hurdle in kidney transplants.”

He said that patient care is a top priority at SKIMS, and the swap transplant done by the Department of Urology at KTU is a major breakthrough in kidney transplants and our commitment to new advances in patient care.

Meanwhile, Prof Saleem Wani emphasised, “This is landmark surgery done by the SKIMS and is a major milestone set in the kidney transplantation.”

He said one patient aged 59 years from South Kashmir, suffering from diabetes and ESRD on dialysis since November 2022, had wife as his only kidney donor.

However, they had a positive CDC cross-match, due to which a kidney transplant was not possible. Another patient from Bandipora aged 33 years with CKD stage 5 had his mother as his only kidney donor, whose blood group did not match, which precluded a kidney transplant. On swap (donor exchange), both patients received blood group-matched and immunologically compatible kidney donations, he added.

Prof Wani stressed that “swap transplants are one of the ways to counter organ shortages, as organ shortages are a main hurdle in kidney transplant.”

He said that with the successful conduct of the first swap kidney transplant, SKIMS has set the ball rolling for enhancing the donor pool.

He said it requires a lot of logistics and expertise as two transplants are performed in a single day, which is burdensome but SKIMS, with all its capabilities, performed the surgery successfully and created a ray of hope for the helpless patients.

He said SKIMS is a major contributor to the organ transplant programme of the country, filling a major gap as one lac eighty thousand kidney failure patients need kidney transplants in India in a year and only 6,000 kidney transplants are done.

He said that SKIMS has so far done more than 550 kidney transplants successfully. Organ shortage being a limiting factor, he underscored the importance of Cadaver Transplant, Swap Transplant and ABO incompatible Transplant which he said is a way forward to give a new lease of life to patients suffering from kidney failure.

He said the Department of Urology and KTU are taking serious measures to work out Cadaver Transplant and in this direction, various awareness programmes are being conducted in coordination with SOTTO ( State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization).

He also said that the departments of urology and KTU, nephrology, and immunology are working in close coordination to set another milestone by starting an ABO-incompatible kidney transplant soon.

Prof. Wani lauded the Department of Nephrology, Department of Anaesthesia, and Department of Immunology for their constant support and close coordination.

He thanked and complimented the entire team of KTU, urology OT and all members, including Prof Arif, Hamid, Dr Rouf Khawaja, Dr Sajad Malik, Dr Sajad Para, Dr Saqib (urology), Prof Ashraf Bhat, Prof Imtiyaz Wani, Prof Muzaffar Wani, Dr Manzoor, Dr Rais (nephrology), Prof Showkat Gurcoo, Dr Khalid (Anesthesiology) and Prof Zaffar Amin Shah (Immunology).

He also appreciated the role of Kidney Transplant Coordinators Yasmin and Ishrat in their efforts to counsel the families.