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

“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 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.

According to AIIMS, 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 friend, a relative, a neighbour or an in-law. The authorisation committee had given its approval before the procedure,” he had 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 VK 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 in a tweet on April 6. “I am being treated for kidney related problems and certain infections that I have contracted,” he had tweeted.

Earlier in April, the finance minister was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha for a new six-year term at a special ceremony, organised while keeping in view of his medical treatment.

The 65-year-old minister, elected to the Upper House of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, was administered the oath of office in the chambers of Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu.

“Took oath of office as Rajya Sabha Member representing Uttar Pradesh, April 15, 2018,” Jaitley had said on Twitter.

Also read | Doctors will decide future course of my treatment: Arun Jaitley

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

Jaitley had also underwent a heart surgery several years ago.