Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In a first, two women saved the lives of the other's husbands through the state’s first inter-hospital kidney swap transplant. Both women donated kidney to each other’s husband and the procedure was performed at the same time in two different hospitals.

The procedure was facilitated by a coordinated effort between Dr Sandeep Saxena, nephrologist at Apollo Hospital, and Dr Neha Agarwal, nephrologist at Choithram Hospital. The transplant involved a 31-year-old patient whose A-positive blood group was incompatible with his wife’s B-positive group. Meanwhile, a 47-year-old patient at another hospital faced complete kidney failure, with his initial donor, his elderly mother, deemed unsuitable due to age-related risks while his wife's blood group was also incompatible. Later, the doctors came up with the life-saving solution when the kidneys of the two women were found to be compatible with each other's husbands, making them fit for the swap.

Dr Agarwal shared the stringent approval process required for the procedure including obtaining permission from the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) after thorough testing and documentation of the patients and donors. Dr Sanjay Dixit, Dean of MGM Medical College and appropriate authority, SOTTO granted the approval after going through various literature for the same. The permission was given under the condition that both surgeries be performed simultaneously to ensure transparency and avoid disputes. With precise coordination, the transplants were successfully executed at both hospitals, marking a significant advancement in organ transplant procedures in Madhya Pradesh.

Dr Saxena emphasised on the importance of collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals, emphasising that such partnerships can transform patient outcomes. “Both the donors and recipients are healthy and recovered. They will be discharged within two days and can return to their routine life,” the doctors said.