The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has successfully performed a Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney (SPK) Transplant, the first such procedure at the institute after a gap of 18 years. The SPK transplant offers dual benefit of restoring kidney function while also achieving insulin independence.
The complex, life-saving surgery was conducted on a 30 year old patient suffering from end-stage renal disease secondary to long-standing Type 1 diabetes mellitus, a condition where both kidney failure and insulin-dependent diabetes severely impact quality of life.
SKP transplantation is considered the gold standard treatment for selected patients with Type 1 diabetes and kidney failure. However, it remains a technically demanding procedure requiring high levels of surgical expertise, advanced perioperative care, and robust immunosuppressive protocols.
Head of Department in AIIMS New Delhi, Dr Dipankar Bhowmik highlighted the life- saving impact of SPK transplantation and said this dual procedure offers a definitive cure for both insulin dependency and renal disease.
