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Kidney Transplant: Surgery Procedure, Risks & Benefits

A kidney transplant offers a lifeline to individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), providing them with a functioning donor kidney to restore natural filtration and potentially extend their lifespan. The primary function of the two bean-shaped organs is filtering out and removing waste materials and fluid from our bodies in the form of urine.

Therefore, when our kidneys lose their ability to function appropriately, these waste materials and fluid accumulate inside the body. Consequently, this increases our blood pressure and leaves us at risk of developing kidney failure.

While dialysis is one treatment option, a kidney transplant can offer a more permanent solution. This guide explores the kidney transplant procedure, its associated risks and benefits, and what patients can expect throughout the process.

Kidney Transplant Surgery: The Procedure Explained

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure done as a treatment for kidney failure. A healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is transplanted. Also, during a kidney transplant procedure, one or both donor’s kidneys may be transplanted. Moreover, the doctor leaves the original kidneys in place unless they cause problems like infection or high blood pressure. 

However, kidney transplants aren’t suitable for people with active infections and those who are severely overweight. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the process:

  1. Pre-Surgery Evaluation: You must undergo extensive testing to ensure compatibility between you and the donor kidney. Also, this includes blood tests to check for tissue type matches and antibody levels to prevent rejection.
  2. Surgery Preparation: When a compatible donor (living or deceased) is identified, it is time to be prepped for surgery. Consequently, this may involve stopping certain medications and following specific dietary guidelines.
  3. Anaesthesia: General anaesthesia puts you to sleep during the surgery.
  4. Incision and Placement: The kidney surgeon cuts your lower abdomen, usually on either side. After this, the donor kidney is then carefully placed inside this space.
  5. Blood Vessel Connection: The kidney surgeon carefully connects the arteries and veins of the new kidney to your blood vessels in the lower abdomen. Consequently, the procedure allows blood to flow through the transplanted kidney for filtering.
  6. Ureter Attachment: To ensure proper drainage of urine from the new kidney, the ureter, a tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder, is detached from the donor kidney and reattached to your bladder. 
  7. Closing Up: After everything is in place, the surgeon closes the incision in layers with sutures or staples.
  8. Post-Surgery Recovery: You’ll be under close monitoring in the recovery room before being transferred to a hospital room. Also, anti-rejection medications will be crucial to prevent your body from attacking the new kidney.
  9. Surgery time: The kidney transplant surgery typically lasts 2-4 hours.
  10. Lifespan: The average lifespan of a transplanted kidney is 12-15 years, but this can vary.

After Kidney Transplant Surgery:

A successful kidney transplant can significantly improve your life! But what happens after the surgery? Here’s a breakdown of what to expect during your recovery:

  • Recovery Room: After surgery, you’ll wake up in a recovery room where nurses will monitor you until you’re stable.
  • Hospital Stay: You may need to stay in the hospital for up to a week.
  • New Kidney Function: If the surgery goes well, the new kidney may work right away or take weeks to start filtering waste. However, kidneys from living donors typically function faster.
  • Pain Management: It is natural to experience pain near the incision site. So you will be given medication.
  • Medications: Also, you’ll be on immunosuppressant drugs to prevent rejection. 
  • Follow-up Care: On discharge, your transplant team will give detailed instructions on medications and follow-up appointments.
  • Home Recovery: Be available for regular checkups with your transplant team. Moreover, it is essential to monitor the kidney’s function.
  • Long-term Care:
    • Follow instructions and take immunosuppressant drugs as directed 
    • Also, take all additional medications to reduce infection risk.
    • Watch out for warning signs like pain, swelling, and flu-like symptoms.
    • Be in touch with your doctor regularly, especially for the first few months.
  • Recovery Timeline: Full recovery may take about six months.

Who should get a Kidney Transplant Surgery?

A kidney transplant surgery may be a good option if the person is in good health and the doctor determines that you meet the requirements, a kidney transplant may be a good option. 

Kidney Transplant Surgery Requirements Checklist

To maximize your chances of a successful kidney transplant, you must meet several critical requirements. Kidney transplant requirements include the following:

Good overall health

Go for a complete medical examination to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery. Also, have a series of tests to screen for any medical conditions that may affect your ability to have a good outcome.

A good kidney donor match

A kidney transplant can be successful if your new kidney is a good match. Ideally, it comes from a living donor with compatible blood and tissue types. If that’s not possible, you’ll join a waiting list for a deceased donor kidney.

The right timing

It is better to get Kidney transplants done before dialysis is needed. However, finding a donor match can take years (3-5 years on average). Consequently, while you wait, dialysis treatments like home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or in-centre options can help you maintain your kidney function.

Kidney Transplant: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

Today, with new technological advancements and the latest procedures, kidney transplants offer a significant improvement over lifelong dialysis, which requires frequent, time-consuming machine treatments. However, transplants come with risks, and understanding the potential benefits can empower you to make informed decisions about this life-changing therapy.

Risks of a Kidney Transplant

Yes, kidney transplants offer a significant improvement over lifelong dialysis, however, it’s important to weigh the risks involved. Also, unlike dialysis, transplants are surgeries and carry potential complications. Therefore, you’ll need to discuss everything with your doctor. Moreover, some potential risks include infections, the new kidney rejecting your body, bleeding, blood clots, and side effects from medications used to prevent rejection.

Here are some potential risks:
  • Temporary lack of kidney function: The new kidney may not start working and you may need dialysis till it starts to function.
  • Organ rejection: Your body may reject the donor organ. So, you may need medication to help your body accept the new kidney.
  • Kidney failure: Your new kidney may fail after several years. So, you may need another transplant or dialysis.
  • There may be an allergic reaction to general anaesthesia
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • A leakage from the ureter
  • A blockage of the ureter
  • An infection
  • A heart attack
  • A Stroke
  • Bleeding and breathing problems
  • Higher risk of infection
  • Higher chances of getting cancer
  • Fatal reaction from the surgery

Moreover, the immunosuppressant drugs you must take after surgery can lead to some unpleasant side effects as well. These may include:

  • weight gain
  • bone thinning
  • increased hair growth
  • acne
  • a higher risk of developing certain skin cancers and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the artery leading to the kidney)

Therefore, to minimise these risks, be sure to get regular health screenings after the surgery. Don’t waste time, consult your doctor if you notice any unusual changes or symptoms.

Benefits of Kidney Transplant Surgery

If you have a successful kidney transplant, you may live a longer life than you would have while on dialysis. Moreover, you may also have fewer health complications and enjoy a better quality of life. Therefore, as long as there are no complications, it should function naturally and do all the things a healthy kidney does.

The potential benefits of a kidney transplant may include:
  • Stopping dialysis: You may be able to stop this dialysis altogether once your kidney function returns.
  • More energy: You may feel more energetic and enjoy a more active life.
  • Better overall health: Improved kidney function leads to improvements in blood pressure, fluid retention, and other complications of kidney failure. 
  • Fewer dietary restrictions: You have the freedom to eat and drink more of what you enjoy.
  • Better quality of life: You may be able to do more and feel better overall.  
  • Extended life: Enjoy a longer life!
  • More control: You have better control over your daily activities
  • Drink more fluids: You are free to take  more normal fluid intake
  • Control over anaemia: There may be a  possible reversal of anaemia
  • Blood Pressure: You may require fewer hypertension medications (for high blood pressure)
  • Cost cutting: Lower treatment cost

Conclusion

A kidney transplant offers a chance to reclaim your life from the constraints of dialysis. While risks exist, the potential benefits often far outweigh them for many patients. The prospect of improved health and greater freedom makes transplantation a life-changing option for those with end-stage renal disease.

Consulting with a qualified nephrologist is crucial when considering a transplant. At Apollo Clinic Ulubari, our team of specialists is dedicated to guiding you through every step of the process, from initial evaluation to post-operative care.

Take the first step towards a healthier future. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Gayatri Pegu Bora to explore how a kidney transplant could transform your life. Call us at +91-9085612000 to book an appointment today. Let our best nephrologist in Guwahati help you start your journey to renewed health today.

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