The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has successfully revived its simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant program, performing a rare dual-organ transplant on a 30-year-old man from Haryana suffering from end-stage kidney failure due to prolonged Type 1 diabetes. Conducted on April 14, this surgery offers hope to patients battling severe diabetes-related complications, potentially eliminating the need for lifelong insulin injections and dialysis. The patient is currently stable, with healthy graft function and near-normal blood sugar levels requiring only minimal insulin support.

The transplant was led by a multidisciplinary team including Prof VK Bansal and Prof Asuri Krishna, and involved careful coordination for organ retrieval from a brain-dead donor. Pancreas transplantation is one of the most technically demanding procedures due to the organ's delicacy. AIIMS had previously conducted only two SPK transplants, with both recipients becoming free from insulin and dialysis. Despite the challenges, the successful revival of this program signifies a significant advancement in transplant surgery in India, with around 8 to 10 patients currently awaiting similar procedures.