No More Dialysis, Insulin Shots? AIIMS Revives Rare Dual-Organ Transplants | Explained
All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi has successfully revived its simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant programme after an 18-year gap, carrying out a rare and highly complex dual-organ transplant on a 30-year-old man from Haryana suffering from end-stage kidney failure caused by prolonged Type 1 diabetes.
The surgery, performed on April 14, offers hope to patients battling severe diabetes-related complications, as it can potentially eliminate the need for both lifelong insulin injections and dialysis by treating diabetes and kidney failure at the same time. Hospital officials said the patient is currently stable, with healthy graft function and near-normal blood sugar levels requiring only minimal insulin support.
Doctors revealed that the patient had been dealing with serious complications linked to long-standing diabetes, including neuropathy, retinopathy and cardiomyopathy, as reported in The Times Of India. His condition was considered particularly critical as his heart’s ejection fraction had dropped to just 25%, making the transplant procedure significantly more challenging.
Despite the risks, the surgery was completed successfully in nearly two and a half hours. Doctors noted that the patient’s blood sugar levels improved rapidly following the transplant, while kidney function stabilised without the need for additional dialysis. He was discharged from the hospital after around two weeks of recovery.
Third Such Procedure Performed By AIIMS
AIIMS Delhi had earlier conducted only two SPK transplants in its history. The institute carried out India’s first successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant in 2004 on a Type 1 diabetes patient named Sagar Aggarwal. Another successful dual-organ transplant followed in 2008 for Delhi resident Mohammad Nadeem.
According to doctors involved in the earlier procedures, both recipients had become free from insulin injections and dialysis following surgery.
Multidisciplinary Medical Team Led The Procedure
The latest transplant was performed under the leadership of Prof VK Bansal and Prof Asuri Krishna, along with Dr Sanjeet Rai and Dr Sushant Soren. They were supported by renal transplant specialists Prof Ashish Sharma and Dr Deepesh from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.
The operation involved a large multidisciplinary team from the departments of surgery, nephrology, endocrinology and anaesthesiology. The anaesthesia team was led by Prof Rahul and Dr Nishant, while nephrology support was provided by Prof Dipankar Bhowmik and Prof Sandeep Mahajan. Endocrinology expertise came from Prof Nikhil Tandon.
Organ Retrieval Required Green Corridor Coordination
Doctors explained that pancreas transplantation remains particularly difficult because the organ cannot be donated by a living donor and must come from a brain-dead cadaver donor.
In this case, the pancreas and kidney were retrieved from a 50-year-old brain-dead donor at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences. AIIMS teams travelled overnight to retrieve the organs.
Authorities from National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, Organ Retrieval Banking Organization (ORBO), Haryana Police and Delhi Police coordinated to establish a green corridor, ensuring rapid transportation of the organs to Delhi.
One Of The Most Technically Demanding Transplants
Medical experts described pancreas transplantation as one of the most technically demanding organ transplant procedures because the pancreas is extremely soft and delicate, making it vulnerable to damage during retrieval and surgery.
Complications such as pancreatitis, bleeding and graft failure can occur if the organ is injured. Doctors said only five to six centres across India actively perform pancreas transplants, with the total number of such surgeries in the country estimated at merely 150-200 so far.
AIIMS currently has around 8 to 10 patients awaiting simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.
Lifelong Care Still Essential After Surgery
Doctors also stressed that post-operative management remains crucial, as transplant recipients require lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection, leaving them more susceptible to infections.
However, specialists said successful pancreas-kidney transplantation can transform the lives of patients with severe Type 1 diabetes, with many recipients becoming nearly insulin-independent and regaining a near-normal quality of life after surgery.