Increasing your chances of getting a living donor with ABOi & SWAP transplants

When organ transplants met with a stumbling block due to scarcity of donors, innovative ways to overcome the problem emerged. ABO incompatible transplant is an effective option for increasing living kidney transplant opportunities through transplants with different blood groups. However, very little is known about the procedures followed prior to the transplant, the risks involved, the precautions and safety protocols to be adhered to, and post-surgery care and follow-up. The success of ABOi transplants will enable more patients to choose transplant as a viable option without having to endure dialysis for want of a donor.

The other big advancement is SWAP transplant, also known as paired donation. When kidney donors and their recipients aren’t compatible for a kidney transplant, and the donor of each pair is compatible with the recipient of the other pair, the doctors may consider a paired donation. So a person who has a different blood group donor can exchange with another patient’s donor, enabling both patients to get the best matched transplant. This process involves efforts on the part of doctors coordinating different pairs of donors and recipients. 

Dr. Gulati will elucidate the processes involved in these two types of transplants, throwing light on their various little known aspects. The talk will be in Hindi.

Dr. Sanjeev Gulati, Director, Nephrology, Fortis Hospitals, Delhi, is a popular and affable member of the KWF family. His expertise lies in the field of kidney transplants and renal diseases in children. Dr. Gulati has also written a book on Childhood Renal Diseases. He has been promoting the cause of organ donation in his capacity as Vice President of Indian Society of Organ Transplantation. Having won several awards for his original contributions in the field of kidney diseases, he has authored several articles in newspapers and magazines to create public awareness about kidney related issues. He has contributed numerous research articles to journals and also presented talks at several international conferences.