AIIMS Raipur achieves milestone with first swap kidney transplant

Located in India, AIIMS Raipur recently achieved a significant medical milestone by conducting its first Swap Kidney Transplant on March 15, 2025. This advanced procedure, also known as Kidney Paired Donation (KPD), allows pairs of incompatible kidney patients and their respective donors to exchange organs, thereby overcoming blood group incompatibilities that might otherwise prevent direct donations. In this case, two patients from Bilaspur, aged 39 and 41, were on dialysis for three years and could not receive kidneys directly from their wives due to differing blood types. AIIMS Raipur coordinated a donor swap to facilitate the transplants, resulting in successful surgeries for all involved, who are now recovering in the Transplant ICU. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, this achievement places AIIMS Raipur at the forefront of organ transplantation initiatives, marking it as the first government hospital in Chhattisgarh to perform such a surgery. The hospital has previously pioneered many advances in kidney transplant medicine, being the first among newer AIIMS institutions to conduct Deceased Donor Organ Donation and Transplantation. To date, AIIMS Raipur has performed a total of 54 kidney transplants, boasting high patient and graft survival rates, making them a key player in renal care within the region. The successful implementation of the swap transplant procedure reflects both scientific progress and the continual need for innovative solutions to address the challenges related to organ donation shortages. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) recognizes the significance of these swap procedures and has noted that such initiatives can increase overall kidney transplants by nearly 15%. To expand access to these life-saving surgeries, NOTTO is advocating for the implementation of swap donation programs nationwide, envisioning a