Kidney Transplant

Quick Facts

  • The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on each side of the spine just below the rib cage. Each is about the size of a fist.
  • Their main function is to filter and remove waste, minerals and fluid from the blood by producing urine.
  • When your kidneys lose this filtering ability, harmful levels of fluid and waste accumulate in your body, which can raise your blood pressure and result in kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease).
  • End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost about 90% of their ability to function normally.

Who needs a transplant?

For Donors

  • Diabetes
  • Chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Chronic glomerulonephritis — an inflammation and eventual scarring of the tiny filters within your kidneys (glomeruli)
  • Polycystic kidney disease

  • Patients who have been on dialysis for a very long time.

Pre - Transplant Evaluation

There are various steps involved before one can go ahead with a kidney transplantation. The steps include the following:
  • Search for a compatible donor kidney. This can be a live or a preserved kidney. Live kidney transplants are usually more as compared to preserved ones.
  • Both the donor as well as the patient undergoes various investigations before surgery.
  • These investigations include blood tests, kidney function tests, urine analysis and other tests.
  • Important tests like HIV detection are also performed.
  • Blood group analysis and RH tests.
  • Cardiac evaluation.

Surgery

Both, the donor as well as the patient are required to get admitted into the hospital 1-2 days prior to the surgery in order to carry out the pre-surgery investigations.

The following steps were performed for conducting the kidney transplantation.

  • A well functioning kidney that is compatible with the patient is removed out of the donor through a laproscopic key hole surgery.
  • Once the kidney along with its tubes has been retrieved, an incision in the lower abdomen of the patient is done.
  • The patient’s kidney or kidneys are re-positioned and the new kidney is placed inside the body. The ureter of the newly placed kidney is then connected to the urinary bladder. Once the circulation is established, the abdomen is closed.
  • In case the patient’s kidney is causing harm to the body then it is removed out.

Postoperative Care

For Donors

Since the donor has to undergo an abdominal surgery, the associated precautions need to be taken by the donor also. These will include wound n’t care, medications, painkillers and other medications. The donor is also advised for following a certain diet and avoiding fast food, and adding healthy food instead. The donor is advised to take certain precautions in the daily life for at least 4 to 6 weeks post surgery.

For Recipients

As with other transplantation surgeries, the first 24 to 48 hours are crucial after the surgery. A patient who receives a kidney transplant undergoes several blood tests and other investigations to monitor the condition and ensure a successful transplantation. Along with wound care, the patient is given a soft liquid diet for 3 to 5 days and can begin walking 24 hours after surgery. With the help of incentive spirometry and physiotherapy, the patient can get back to his normal life by 4 to 6 days. It is important that the patient and his family understand the precautions that the patient must take in order to stay healthy. Routine health check ups can help in identifying any further problems.

Living with a Transplant

Kidney transplant has become a common procedure in India and also has a high success rate. Patients who receive a live donor kidney or a preserved one must follow the basic precautions in order to stay healthy and prevent any problems. This includes dietary precautions, lifestyle modifications, regular physical exercise, avoiding fast food, including multivitamins and regular health checkups. The patient must also try to keep his or her BP in control.

Returning to normal life is easy after a kidney transplant. It is important that the patient and his family understand the value of good health and our observant for any further symptoms.

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