GPHC Makes History with the Caribbean’s First Four-Paired Incompatible Loop (Chain) Kidney Transplant
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in medical history with the successful completion of the Caribbean’s first four-paired incompatible loop, also known as a chain kidney transplant. This remarkable medical breakthrough was carried out between September 29th and October 2nd, 2025, and represents a new chapter in transplant surgery for Guyana and the wider Caribbean region.
Under the expert leadership of Dr Kishore Persaud, Consultant Transplant Surgeon at GPHC, the transplant team performed eight surgeries over four consecutive days involving four living kidney donors and four recipients. The chain method was created to solve problems when donors and recipients don’t match, enabling everyone involved to either donate or receive a kidney through a planned series of compatible matches. Each procedure was performed successfully, and all four donors have since been discharged in stable condition, while the four recipients continue to recover under careful observation at the hospital.
“This marks a historic milestone not only for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation but also for the entire Caribbean,” said Dr Kishore Prasad, who led the surgical team. “This closed-chain kidney transplant demonstrates how teamwork, precision, and innovation can save multiple lives in one coordinated effort.” He further explained, “The procedure allows patients with incompatible donors to still receive a life-saving kidney by creating a chain of compatible matches within a group. It’s a method that greatly expands opportunities for transplant patients and reduces waiting times.”
The loop transplant was a complex solution for four recipient-donor pairs who, despite their willingness to help, were biologically incompatible with their intended partners. Through strategic matching and coordination, the team designed a life-saving sequence where D.S. received a kidney from S.N., R.R. received a kidney from N.Z., S.A. received a kidney from V.M., and K.H. finally received his long-awaited kidney from A.A. Despite the final challenge of K.H. having antibodies against A.A., the team persevered. The team worked closely with a pharmaceutical partner to secure essential medication, ensuring the transplant could proceed safely and successfully.
Three of the donor surgeries were completed laparoscopically, while one was performed through open donor nephrectomy. Two of the three laparoscopic surgeries required microvascular reconstruction, one with a superior pole artery and one with an inferior pole artery, and one of these donor nephrectomies made history as the first laparoscopic transplant at GPHC completed with a double renal artery. For the recipients, one left-sided and three right-sided renal transplants were performed. These procedures reflect not only surgical precision but also GPHC’s growing capability in advanced minimally invasive transplant techniques.
This monumental success was made possible through the steadfast dedication and expert collaboration of the entire multidisciplinary transplant team, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nephrologists, pharmacists, scrub, unit and dialysis nurses, and the hospital administration. Special thanks were extended to Dr Hemraj Ramcharran, Dr Jaganand Ramnarine, Dr Tariq Ramsaroop, and Dr Kashif Khan, whose support and technical expertise contributed significantly to the success of the operation.
This four-paired incompatible loop kidney transplant is not only a great example of surgical competence, but it also shows how committed GPHC is to improving medical technology in the Caribbean. Through this pioneering transplant procedure, multiple lives have been changed, and Guyana has been firmly placed at the forefront of transplant surgery and medical advancement in the region.
