VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital performs first paediatric kidney transplant

New Delhi: VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital has successfully carried out its first paediatric kidney transplant, giving a new lease of life to an 11-year-old boy who had been on regular dialysis. The hospital said this is the first time a central government hospital in India has performed a paediatric renal transplant.

The child, who comes from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was suffering from end-stage kidney disease caused by a rare condition called bilateral hypodysplastic kidneys, in which both kidneys are underdeveloped. His 35-year-old mother donated her kidney for the procedure.

According to Dr Shobha Sharma, director professor and in-charge of Paediatric Nephrology, the boy was first brought to Safdarjung Hospital about 18 months ago in a critical state and had to be revived after a cardiac arrest. Since then, he had been under the care of the paediatric nephrology team and was surviving on regular dialysis.

Dr Pawan Vasudeva, head of Urology and Renal Transplant, said paediatric kidney transplants are technically demanding as the donor kidney must be connected to larger blood vessels, and space has to be created for an adult-sized kidney in a child’s body. He confirmed that the transplanted kidney has started functioning well and the boy is now stable and off dialysis.

Hospital director Dr Sandeep Bansal said it was heartening to see the child, whose father is a daily wage worker, recover without the financial burden of a costly private procedure, which could have cost around Rs 15 lakh. He added that the hospital is committed to offering advanced medical care free of cost.

Medical superintendent Dr Charu Bamba said the child will also receive expensive immunosuppressive medicines free of charge, ensuring long-term care after the transplant.

(with inputs from agencies)