For 18 years, one of the country’s most complex transplant procedures had remained absent at Delhi.-AIIMS Now, in a landmark achievement that has reignited hope for patients battling severe diabetes and kidney failure, the institue has successfully performed a Simultaneous Kidney–Pancreas (SPK) Transplant — marking the return of the advanced programme after nearly two decades.

The life-saving surgery was performed on a 30-year-old patient suffering from end-stage kidney disease caused by long-standing Type 1 diabetes, a condition that often leaves patients dependent on both dialysis and lifelong insulin therapy.

The highly specialised procedure, carried out on April 14, 2026, has been declared successful, with the patient now stable, showing healthy kidney function and near-normal blood sugar levels with minimal insulin support.

Calling the surgery a “major milestone” for transplant medicine, Prof. V. K. Bansal from the Department of Surgical Disciplines said the operation represented the strength of coordinated teamwork and advanced surgical planning.

“This transplant was not just about replacing organs. It was about restoring quality of life to a young patient who had been struggling with multiple complications of diabetes,” Prof. Bansal said.

Prof. Asuri Krishna, who co-led the surgery, described the procedure as one of the most technically demanding operations in transplant medicine.

“A simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplant requires extreme precision, detailed post-operative monitoring and seamless collaboration between multiple departments. The successful outcome reflects the preparedness and expertise available at AIIMS,” Prof. Krishna noted.

Unlike a standard kidney transplant, an SPK transplant treats both kidney failure and diabetes together. For patients with Type 1 diabetes, this can mean freedom from repeated dialysis sessions and significant reduction in insulin dependence, dramatically improving long-term survival and quality of life.

The surgery was conducted by a multidisciplinary team that included Dr. Sanjeet Rai and Dr. Sushant Soren, with support from Prof. Ashish Sharma and Dr. Deepesh from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

The anaesthesia team was led by Prof. Rahul and Dr. Nishant, while nephrology experts Prof. Bhowmik and Prof. Sandeep Mahajan played a crucial role in managing the patient before and after the transplant.

Prof. Bhowmik said the case highlighted how diabetes-related kidney disease is becoming an increasing challenge among younger patients.

“Many young patients with Type 1 diabetes eventually develop irreversible kidney damage. Procedures like SPK transplantation offer them a real opportunity to regain normalcy and live independently,” he said.

Prof. Sandeep Mahajan added that the successful revival of the programme would open doors for many more critically ill patients across the country.

“This achievement is important not only for AIIMS but also for transplant care in India. It shows that highly advanced organ transplant programmes can be successfully sustained with the right infrastructure and multidisciplinary expertise,” Prof. Mahajan said.

Hospital officials said residents and medical staff worked through the night to coordinate the transplant, underlining the enormous logistical and clinical effort behind the procedure.

The organs were retrieved from a 50-year-old brain-dead donor identified at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. AIIMS also acknowledged the donor’s family for their decision, calling it a selfless act that made the life-saving surgery possible.

The successful restart of the SPK transplant programme is now being seen as a major boost for advanced organ transplantation in India, bringing renewed hope to patients waiting for complex but life-changing treatment options.