Twin sisters receive simultaneous kidney transplants in hospital first

In a groundbreaking procedure at Garrahan Hospital, 14-year-old twins Mayra and Daiana received simultaneous kidney transplants, a first for the Buenos Aires institution. The sisters, who have lived with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease since childhood, were admitted for routine check-ups but ended up staying for the life-changing surgery.

Their condition, a rare genetic disorder affecting the kidneys and sometimes the liver, had progressed to chronic kidney failure. Doctors decided to place them on the transplant waiting list in December, aiming to intervene before they required dialysis. This proactive approach, according to Juan Ibáñez, head of nephrology at Garrahan, is a key objective to improve patient outcomes.

The complex operation involved two separate surgical teams working in parallel on the twins, who had been on the national waiting list managed by Incucai. Around 20 medical professionals, including nephrologists, urologists, and anesthesiologists, participated in the procedure. Both surgeries concluded successfully, with the twins showing normal urine output, an early indicator of the transplanted kidneys functioning well.

Following a favorable recovery, both Mayra and Daiana have been discharged and continue to be monitored. The successful transplant not only averted the need for dialysis but also significantly improved their long-term health outlook.

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One of our main goals is to speed up the evaluation of patients with advanced kidney disease for the waiting list, allowing them to receive a kidney transplant and thus avoid starting dialysis.