Delhi, 25 November (H.S.): In a landmark achievement, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital have become the first central government-run institution to successfully perform a pediatric kidney transplant. The pioneering surgery, conducted on November 19, granted a new lease on life to an 11-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh whose own kidneys had failed due to a rare congenital condition.At a press conference held at the hospital on Tuesday, the medical teams detailed the complex case.

Dr. Shobha Sharma, Director of the Pediatric Nephrology department, explained that the boy was diagnosed with bilateral hypo-dysplastic kidneys approximately 18 months ago. He was brought to the hospital in critical condition, having been resuscitated from a cardiac arrest.

Since then, he had been on regular dialysis under the constant care of the pediatric nephrology unit. The donor was the patient's 35-year-old mother, who donated one of her kidneys.Dr. Pawan Vasudeva, Head of Urology and Renal Transplant, who led the surgical team, highlighted the significant challenges of pediatric transplants compared to adult procedures.

A pediatric kidney transplant is a major surgical challenge, he stated. It involves connecting the donor kidney to the child's smaller blood vessels and creating adequate space within the child’s body for an adult-sized kidney.

The procedure was a resounding success. Dr. Vasudeva expressed his satisfaction, noting, The transplanted kidney has begun to function well, and the boy's kidney function has normalized. He is now free from dialysis, his recovery has been successful, and he will be discharged soon.

Dr. Sandeep Bansal, Director of VMMC, emphasized the hospital's commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to all citizens without discrimination.

It is deeply gratifying to see that a child from a daily wage laborer's family from Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is now healthy and free from dialysis, he said. This is a dream come true for the family, as such a surgery would have cost around ₹15 lakh in the private sector.

Further supporting the family, Medical Superintendent Dr. Charu Bamba confirmed that the hospital will provide the expensive, lifelong immunosuppressive medications required by transplant patients, entirely free of cost.

The multidisciplinary effort involved several expert teams:

Surgical Transplant Team: Led by Dr. Pawan Vasudeva, and included Dr. Neeraj Kumar, Professor of Urology.

Pediatric Department Team: Led by Dr. Shobha Sharma, Director & In-charge of Pediatric Nephrology, with Dr. Srinivasavardan, Assistant Professor, under the guidance of Dr. Pradeep K. Debata, Professor and Head of Pediatrics.

Anesthesia Team: Led by Dr. Sushil, and included Dr. Mamta and Dr. Sonali.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar