To strengthen transplant services, the institute has also launched a dedicated transplant subspecialty, bringing together specialists involved in transplant surgery, nephrology and post-operative care under a structured programme.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The State-run Institute of Nephro-Urology (INU) has performed 10 cadaveric kidney transplants in the first 17 days of July, including three transplants within 24 hours, marking its highest monthly transplant tally and reflecting a sharp increase in organ donation and transplant activity.INU Director Shivalingaiah M. told The Hindu that the institute had traditionally performed three to four kidney transplants a month, making the pace achieved this month a significant milestone.“We usually perform three to four kidney transplants every month. This month alone, we have completed 10 transplants in just 17 days, including three transplants in a single day. This has been possible because of increased organ availability through the State’s cadaver organ donation programme and the commitment of our transplant team,” he said.Dr. Shivalingaiah said all the transplant surgeries were carried out in addition to the institute’s routine urology workload, with many procedures extending into the late-night and early morning hours.“It is a proud moment for our team. The dedication shown by our faculty, postgraduate students, nursing staff, anaesthesiologists and support teams has been extraordinary. Their willingness to work through the night has enabled us to ensure that no donated organ goes unused,” he said.Transplant sub-specialityTo strengthen transplant services, the institute has also launched a dedicated transplant subspecialty, bringing together specialists involved in transplant surgery, nephrology and post-operative care under a structured programme.The Director said kidneys allocated through the State Organ and TIssue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) - Jeevasarthakathe - that facilitates cadaveric organ donations, enabled ten patients to undergo transplantation in a short span of 17 days. Two of the transplants were successfully done on Friday and another one through the night that stretched on to July 18.. Of the ten recipients, one is a 38-year-old female patient. Of every cadaveric donation recorded in any hospital in the State, the government-run institute gets one kidney for patients enrolled there.Three in 24 hoursDoctors said performing three kidney transplants in a single day was a rare achievement for a government hospital and reflected the close coordination between the urology, nephrology, anaesthesia, intensive care and nursing teams. “We had performed three transplants in 24 hours in April this year also,” he said.The 160-bed super-specialty institute, along with its recently commissioned 148-bed annexe, has been performing kidney transplants since 2009. So far, 415 kidney transplants have been carried out at the institute. As of July 18, the institute has 815 patients waiting for a transplant.While 45 kidney transplants were performed during 2025, the institute has already completed 35 transplants between January and July this year, indicating a substantial rise in transplant activity.Apart from transplant services, the institute also operates dialysis facilities at the K.S.R. Dialysis Centre, Herohalli Dialysis Centre and Charaka Super Speciality Hospital, where eligible patients receive free dialysis under various government health schemes. Published - July 18, 2026 10:28 pm IST
