Two West Coast Demerara men have received kidney transplants at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after their wives, who were incompatible donors for their own husbands, each donated a kidney to the other woman’s spouse.
The paired kidney exchange took place in September. Both men, aged 31 and 38, have since been discharged with good kidney function and no longer require dialysis, according to a hospital statement.
The process began when GPHC’s Nephrology team diagnosed the younger man with end-stage renal disease and referred him to the Transplant Department for placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter.
Given his age, the team also discussed a kidney transplant with him. His wife offered to donate, but testing showed that their blood groups were incompatible, making a direct transplant unsuitable.
The man began peritoneal dialysis while the transplant team explored other options, including a paired exchange.
Approximately five months later, a second couple approached the team. The 38-year-old husband also had kidney disease, and his wife was willing to donate, but their blood groups were incompatible as well.
The team proposed that each wife donate a kidney to the other woman’s husband. Both couples agreed, and favourable crossmatch results allowed the transplants to proceed.
The men remained hospitalised for approximately two weeks after surgery, with the older patient requiring a slightly longer stay.
Both continue to attend follow-up appointments for wound care, investigations and monitoring, while taking prescribed medication to support their transplanted kidneys.
GPHC described both recipients as working fathers and said the exchange demonstrated an option that may be available when a willing donor is incompatible with an intended recipient.
The hospital did not identify the couples or name the members of the transplant team in its statement.
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