Two husbands from the West Coast Demerara received kidney transplants in September after the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) facilitated a paired kidney exchange when their wives proved incompatible donors.

The hospital said both men have since been discharged with good kidney function and no longer depend on dialysis.
The first patient, 31, was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease by the hospital's Nephrology team and referred to the Transplant Department for a peritoneal dialysis catheter. Given his age, the team discussed a transplant with him and he expressed interest. His wife offered to donate a kidney, but testing showed their blood groups were incompatible.
He continued peritoneal dialysis while the team explored other options, including a paired kidney exchange.

About five months later, a second couple approached the team. The husband, 38, also had kidney disease and his wife was willing to donate, but their blood groups were likewise incompatible.
The team proposed a paired exchange in which each wife would donate a kidney to the other woman's husband. Both couples agreed and crossmatch testing returned favourable results.
Both men underwent transplants in September and spent about two weeks in hospital, with the older patient requiring a slightly longer stay.

They continue to attend clinic for wound care, routine investigations and monitoring, and are taking medication to support their new kidneys. Both are working fathers.
The hospital said the case shows that where a willing donor is not compatible with a loved one, a paired kidney exchange may be an option.