In a milestone medical achievement, doctors from Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai led by Dr Bharat Shah, Dr Shruti Tapiawala, Dr Pradeep Rao and Dr Jitendra Jagtap successfully performed the city’s first. Domino Kidney Transplant Year old. The complex procedure involved six surgeries in multiple hospitals and states, uniting three donors and three recipients in a coordinated effort to save lives.

Overcoming the Challenges of Vulnerable Patients Transplant meets the needs of vulnerable patients, who make up only 7-10 percent of the transplant population but face significant challenges. These patients often develop antibodies due to prior transplant, pregnancy, or blood transfusion, increasing the risk of rejection by 30–35 percent even with standard desensitization protocols. Advanced transplant immunodiagnostics and acceptable mismatch techniques in HLA (human leukocyte antigen) medicine were critical in overcoming these barriers.

“Domino transplantation creates a chain of donors and recipients, where each donor is matched to a different recipient. This approach is important for patients who face the risk of rejection with their available family donors,” explained Dr Shruti Tapiawala, Consultant Nephrologist.

Patients’ Stories

Domino transplant saved three lives, each patient struggling with unique challenges:

– A 55-year-old woman from Hyderabad had multiple donor-specific antibodies, making her ineligible to receive a kidney from her husband, brother or other relatives.

– A 17-year-old boy’s first transplant during the COVID-19 pandemic failed and he became sensitized because of antibodies against his potential family donors, including his father and aunt.

– An 18 year old girl lost her kidney He faced additional challenges due to infection and from congenital abnormalities and HLA antibodies against his mother, his potential donor.

Months of waiting, extensive HLA matching, antibody profiling, virtual and physical cross-matching and counseling culminated in life-saving surgery on December 19. Over 18 hours, three donors and three recipients underwent complex procedures, marking a milestone in Indian medical history.

Teamwork and Innovation

Dr Bharat Shah, Director of Renal Sciences at Gleneagles Hospital, expressed pride in this achievement:

“This success reflects the power of teamwork and innovation. Domino implants create life-saving effects for patients who once had no options. It is a privilege to lead such unprecedented efforts that are changing lives.”

Dr. Pradeep Rao, Director of Urology and kidney transplantDomino stressed the importance of advanced solutions like Transplant:

“Traditional donor-recipient matching is not always possible for sensitive patients. Paired swaps and domino transplants, though legally and logistically challenging in India, are game-changers. Without them, many patients would remain on dialysis indefinitely.”

impact on patients

One of the recipients, a 55-year-old woman from Hyderabad, expressed her gratitude:

“After years of waiting and failed attempts, I feel healthy and hopeful again. “This miracle would not have been possible without the expertise of my doctors and the selflessness of my donor.”

Dr. Bipin Shewale, CEO, Gleneagles Hospitals, said, “This domino transplant underlines our commitment to pushing the boundaries in therapeutics. “We are proud to provide hope and treatment to patients with limited options.”

The success of this procedure demonstrates the ability of advanced transplant technologies to address the unique challenges of vulnerable patients. This historic achievement not only saved the lives of three people but also provided hope to countless others waiting for a transplant in similar circumstances.

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