Bengaluru Grandmother Donates Kidney, Saves 5-Year-Old Grandson at Fortis Bannerghatta

Bengaluru: Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road successfully performed a rare and life-saving kidney transplant on a 5-year-old boy Master Shreyas, who received a kidney from his 64-year-old grandmother, Ms. Meena. This is possibly the youngest-ever reported case of a grandmother-to-grandson kidney transplant in India.

This complex transplant overcame complex medical challenges. The transplant was led by Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director of Urology, Uro-Oncology, Uro-Gynaecology, Andrology, Kidney Transplant & Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, along with his multi-disciplinary team.

Master Shreyas, one of identical twin boys, had been suffering from a chronic kidney ailment; his condition was further complicated by multiple urological surgeries, seizure disorder (a condition causing repeated fits/convulsions) and a non-functional bladder.

With his health rapidly declining, peritoneal dialysis (wherein the lining of the abdomen is used to remove waste products from the blood) was initiated six weeks prior to surgery.

This not only supported kidney function but also helped gradually expand his abdominal cavity to accommodate the adult-size donor kidney. Since his bladder could not function naturally, surgeons created a Mitrofanoff (a procedure wherein a new tube is created on the child's belly through which he can urinate by using a catheter) to enable urinary drainage.

The donor kidney was retrieved through a laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy from Ms. Meena and transplanted into Shreyas’ right iliac fossa (the lower part of the abdomen near the hip bone).

The renal vein was connected to the common iliac vein (a large blood vessel in the pelvis that carries blood from the legs back to the heart), while the artery was connected to the common iliac artery (a large blood vessel in the pelvis that supplies blood from the heart to the lower body).

As part of the transplant, ureteral stenting (double J stent) was also performed, in which a thin, flexible plastic tube was temporarily placed in the ureter to help urine flow smoothly from the kidney to the bladder. Shreyas was discharged four days after the surgery in stable condition.

Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director of Urology, Uro-Oncology, Uro-Gynaecology, Andrology, Kidney Transplant & Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, said, “Transplanting a much older person’s kidney into a small child presents unique challenges like size disparity and heightened immune response in paediatric patients, which can lead to increased risk of graft rejection.

This case involved accommodating an adult kidney in a child’s body, overcoming vessel size mismatches, and creating a urinary diversion. The successful recovery is a testament to the resilience of the child, the family’s unwavering trust, and the expertise of our multidisciplinary team, including Paediatrician, Nephrologists and Anaesthesiologist.”

Dr. Karthik Rao, Additional Director of Urology, Uro-Oncology, Uro-Gynaecology, Andrology, Kidney Transplant & Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, said, “Very few centres in the world perform kidney transplants on paediatric patients with neurogenic bladder, as it requires highly complex urinary tract reconstruction before the transplant.

At Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, our expertise in paediatric robotic surgery enabled us to perform the Mitrofanoff procedure using the advanced Da Vinci Xi Robot.

This minimally invasive approach ensured precise reconstruction with minimal scarring and pain for the child, laying the foundation for a successful kidney transplant and a better quality of life.”

Sharing her experience, Patient's Grandmother Ms. Meena said, “As a grandmother, it was heartbreaking to watch my little grandson go through so much pain at such a young age, regular dialysis, frequent hospital visits, and missing out on a carefree childhood. No child should have to endure that.

When the doctors told us that my kidney was a match, I felt it was my responsibility and my blessing to step forward for my grandson. All I wanted was to see him live like other children, going to school, playing, and smiling without pain. Today, watching him recover, sit up, and laugh feels like the most precious gift I could ever give him.”

Mr. Akshay Oleti, Facility Director, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru, added, “This case highlights the unique strengths of our paediatric transplant program. Such procedures require not just surgical expertise but also immense commitment from families. We are proud to have helped give Shreyas the gift of a healthy future.”