Arun Jaitley shifted out of ICU, recovering after kidney transplant

 Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who successfully underwent a kidney transplant on May 14 at he All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), has been shifted out of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and he is recovering now.

Jaitley’s post-operative recovery was being closely monitored by a team of transplant surgeons, pulmonologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist and critical care experts among others.

“He was shifted out of the ICU to a private ward of the Cardio-Neuro Centre during the weekend. He is recovering well,” a source at AIIMS told PTI.

The 65-year-old political leader received a kidney from a distant relative, a middle-aged woman, according to sources at AIIMS. The donation fell under the category of ‘live unrelated donation’.

“Living, unrelated donor could be anyone who is emotionally attached to the recipient, such as friend, a relative, a neighbour or an in-law. The authorisation committee had given its approval before the procedure,” the source told PTI.

During transplant surgeries, the patient is put on immunosuppressants so as to lower his/her body’s ability to reject a transplanted organ. The patient is thus kept in isolation in order to avoid any infection.

A team of 20 personnel, including transplant anesthesiologists and transplant surgeons, conducted the surgery at the cardio-thoracic centre.

Former chief of AIIMS renal transplant division Sandeep Guleria, currently working with Apollo Hospital, was part of the medical team, who performed the surgery on Jaitley. Surgeon V K Bansal, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and nephrologist Sandeep Mahajan were the other members who carried the surgery. 

Dr Sandeep Guleria, who is the brother of Randeep Guleria, is a family friend of the finance minister.

Arun Jaitley had confirmed that he was being treated for kidney-related problems through a tweet.

I am being treated for kidney related problems & certain infections that I have contracted. I am therefore currently working from controlled environment at home. The future course of my treatment would be determined by the doctors treating me.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) April 5, 2018

The BJP leader had undergone a bariatric surgery to treat his weight gain which was caused due to a long-standing diabetic condition.  

(With PTI inputs)