By TC News Desk
Agartala, 8th July 2024: In a historic medical achievement for Tripura, GB Pant Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College successfully conducted the state’s first-ever kidney transplant on Monday. The surgery, which lasted nearly five hours, involved a 20-year-old male patient.
Dr. Sankar Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital and AGMC, announced the milestone. He recounted the journey that began with a meeting on August 21, 2023, to discuss kidney transplantation. A committee was formed two days later, headed by then Chief Medical Superintendent, now Director of Health Services, Dr. Sanjib Kumar Debbarma.
“All the doctors involved in the transplant were included in the committee. On January 4, 2024, we created a protocol, which was approved by Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on January 18. Following this, we sought a mentor and chose Shija Hospitals and Research Institute of Manipur for their technical expertise,” Dr. Chakraborty explained.
The young patient was admitted to the hospital in January with a creatinine level of 16 and had been undergoing dialysis since then. The Chief Minister, who is also the Health Minister, took a personal interest in the case, prompting swift action. In May, an MoU was signed with Shija Hospitals, and the transplant was scheduled for July 8. The patient’s mother donated her kidney, and the entire procedure, including the involvement of the Manipur team, was funded by the government.
Dr. Guliver Potsangbam, a nephrologist from Shija Hospitals who led the surgical team, confirmed the success of the operation and reported that the patient is stable. “We began the surgery at 9 AM and concluded by 2:30 PM with a 100% survival rate. We have been performing kidney transplants since 2016 and have completed 114 such surgeries,” he stated. He also mentioned that the hospital’s facilities were thoroughly assessed and any suggestions were promptly implemented.
Key medical personnel from GB Pant and AGMC, including Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. Kanak Chowdhury, urologists Dr. Bijit Lodh and Dr. Mukut Debnath, and nephrologists Dr. Manas Gope and Dr. Samaresh Pal, were integral to the procedure. Dr. Chakraborty emphasized that Shija Hospitals will continue to mentor the team at GB Pant and AGMC until they can perform kidney transplants independently.
