Nanavati Max Hospital has performed multi-hospital three-pair domino kidney transplant with Sushrut Hospital in Chembur, offering a fresh lease of life to three patients suffering from end-stage renal disease.
The intricate series of surgeries overcame incompatible blood groups within families by pairing donors and recipients from separate households, thereby creating a “domino effect” of compatible transplants.
This involved six surgeries across the two hospitals, two organ retrieval and transplantations at Nanavati Max Hospital and one set of retrieval and transplant at Sushrut Hospital, Chembur, uniting three donors and three recipient families in a synchronised chain to save lives.
The first recipient, a 36-year-old resident of Bhindi Bazar, Mumbai was on dialysis for two years. His mother was a potential donor and a good match. However, when doctors suggested a swap procedure to benefit multiple families, his mother, agreed out of altruism, initiating the domino chain.
She donated one of her kidney to a 57-year-old woman, who had been on the waiting list for two years and required regular dialysis. The woman’s husband was willing to donate, but their blood groups were incompatible. Being O positive, finding a suitable donor was especially challenging.
Through the swap, the patient’s husband, donated his kidney to a 25-year-old Ratnagiri resident and a dialysis technician who had been assisting patients with chronic kidney disease. The youngster was diagnosed with kidney failure two months ago. His deteriorating health was first noticed by colleagues, prompting urgent medical evaluation. With no compatible donor in his family and limited financial means, his chances looked grim—until the domino transplant provided a viable solution. His 50-year-old mother in turn became the donor for the 36-year-old Mumbai resident, completing the chain.
Recognising the potential of a three-way transplant chain, specialists at the orchestrated the swaps on Tuesday, March 18. All organ retrieval and transplant surgeries were successful and the patients are recovering.
Speaking about the success of the first multi-hospital three-way domino transplant of this year in Mumbai, Dr. Jatin Kothari, Director, Nephrology & Chief Consultant, Renal Transplant Medicine at Nanavati Max Hospital, said, “The domino approach for kidney transplants helps patients who might otherwise might have a long wait for cadaveric organs. For some, it is the only ray of hope for individuals unable to find matching donors
in their families. Establishing a unified registry of unmatched donor-recipient pairs, registered across hospital of the city or state can help us create larger domino chains and help more patients.”
Dr Vivek Talaulikar, director and chief operating officer – Western Region, of the hospital commended the teamwork and dedication of the hospital’s transplant programme. “This pioneering three-pair domino transplant showcases our commitment to innovative renal care and patient-centric solutions. Moreover, possibility of larger domino chains across the hospitals will help reduce the number of unmatched transplants, alleviating both clinical and financial strain on patients.”
