Jaitley shifted out of ICU, recovering after kidney transplant

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who underwent a successful kidney transplant at AIIMS on May 14, was shifted out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is recovering, a source at the hospital said.

His post-operative recovery was being closely monitored by a team of transplant surgeons, endocrinologist, nephrologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist 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," the source said.

According to AIIMS sources, the kidney was donated to the 65-year-old minister by a distant relative, a middle-aged woman. This fell under the category of 'live unrelated donation'.

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

During transplant surgeries, the recipient is put on immunosuppressants in order to lower the body's ability to reject a transplanted organ and thus is kept in isolation to avoid any infection.

The surgery was carried out at the cardio-thoracic centre by a team of 20 personnel, including transplant surgeons and transplant anesthesiologists.

The team included former chief of AIIMS renal transplant division Sandeep Guleria, currently working with Apollo Hospital, surgeon V K Bansal, nephrologist Sandeep Mahajan and AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria.

Sandeep Guleria is the brother of Randeep Guleria and a family friend of the minister.

Jaitley had confirmed his illness on Twitter on April 6. "I am being treated for kidney-related problems and certain infections that I have contracted," he had tweeted.

In September 2014, he underwent a bariatric surgery to treat a long-standing diabetic condition and weight gain. The surgery was first performed at Max Hospital, but he had to be later shifted to AIIMS because of complications.

Jaitley had a heart surgery several years ago.