Nanavati Max and Sushrut Hospitals Successfully Execute Three Pair Domino Kidney Transplant in Mumbai

Mumbai: Nanavati Max Hospital has conducted Mumbai’s first multi-hospital three-pair domino kidney transplant in collaboration with Sushrut Hospital, Chembur. The procedure provided three patients suffering from end-stage renal disease with compatible organ transplants by pairing donors and recipients from different households.

The transplant involved six surgeries across the two hospitals. Nanavati Max Hospital performed two organ retrievals and transplants, while Sushrut Hospital conducted one set of organ retrieval and transplantation. The exchange united three donors and three recipients in a synchronized transplant chain.

The first recipient, a 36-year-old resident of Bhindi Bazar, Mumbai, had been on dialysis for two years. His mother was a suitable donor, but instead of a direct transplant, doctors suggested a swap procedure to benefit multiple patients. She agreed and donated one of her kidneys to a 57-year-old woman who had been on the waiting list for two years and required regular dialysis. The woman’s husband was willing to donate but was not a blood group match. His O-positive blood type made it particularly difficult to find a compatible donor.

Through the swap, the patient’s husband donated his kidney to a 25-year-old dialysis technician from Ratnagiri who had been assisting chronic kidney disease patients. Diagnosed with kidney failure two months ago, his health was deteriorating. With no suitable donor in his family and limited financial resources, his chances of survival were low until the domino transplant provided a solution.

The technician’s 50-year-old mother became the donor for the 36-year-old Mumbai resident, completing the chain. The transplant chain was conducted on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. All organ retrievals and transplants were successful, and the patients are recovering.

Dr. Jatin Kothari, Director, Nephrology & Chief Consultant, Renal Transplant Medicine at Nanavati Max Hospital, said:

“The domino approach for kidney transplants helps patients who might otherwise have a long wait for cadaveric organs. For some, it is the only ray of hope for individuals unable to find matching donors in their families. Establishing a unified registry of unmatched donor-recipient pairs across hospitals in the city or state can help us create larger domino chains and assist more patients.”

Dr. Vivek Talaulikar, Director & Chief Operating Officer - Western Region, Max Healthcare, said:

“This pioneering three-pair domino transplant showcases our commitment to innovative renal care and patient-centric solutions. Moreover, the possibility of larger domino chains across hospitals will help reduce the number of unmatched transplants, alleviating both clinical and financial strain on patients.”