New Delhi: Two men suffering from end-stage kidney disease got a new lease of life through a rare organ swap involving their wives at a private hospital in Noida. The life-saving paired-exchange transplant was performed at Fortis Hospital, after doctors found the patients’ own spouses were not compatible donors but matched each other’s husbands.
Both patients – Hanspal Sirohi (52), a farmer from Hapur and Sanjeev Kumar (42), a clerk also from Hapur – had been on dialysis for several months. While Hanspal had been undergoing dialysis for eight months, Sanjeev had been on it for five months. Their health was worsening quickly, pushing doctors to look for urgent alternatives, Times of India reported.
Kidney swap saves lives
Dr Piyush Varshney, director of urology and kidney transplant at Fortis, explained that blood group compatibility plays a crucial role in transplant success. Hanspal’s wife, Madhu Sirohi, has A+ blood and Sanjeev’s wife, Shashi Saini, has B+. Neither could donate to their own husbands due to mismatched blood types. However, Madhu was a match for Sanjeev and Shashi for Hanspal.
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Since both patients were too weak for ABO-incompatible transplants and had other health issues like diabetes, the medical team suggested a kidney swap. After counseling and discussions, the families agreed to proceed. On March 19, all four individuals were taken into separate operation theatres. In surgeries that lasted around five hours, Madhu donated her kidney to Sanjeev, and Shashi donated hers to Hanspal. All four recovered well and were discharged by March 27.
Paired exchange gains ground
Dr Anuja Porwal, director of nephrology at Fortis, said delaying the transplant could have been life-threatening. “The paired-exchange method turned out to be the safest option. It reduced the need for strong immunosuppressants and improved chances of success,” she said.
Such kidney swap surgeries are more common in Western countries but are gradually gaining ground in India. In 2022, a three-way liver swap was done at a Gurgaon hospital. Dr Porwal added that these cases show not just medical progress but also highlight the deep compassion of the donors and strength of family bonds.
