Kidney Transplant – Procedure, Risk, And Recovery

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure that involves the transplantation of one kidney into a recipient with renal failure. Renal failure occurs when the kidneys fail to filter waste from the blood, which can make a patient very sick.

People whose kidneys have failed may undergo dialysis, a treatment that filters waste products in the blood. Or they may qualify for a kidney transplant; this procedure replaces their failing kidneys with healthy ones.

The Transplant Procedure

If a living donor is giving you a kidney, your doctor can schedule the transplant well in advance.

If you are waiting for a deceased donor to match your tissue type, you must be available to rush to the hospital at a moment’s notice when a donor is identified. Many transplant hospitals inform their patients via cell phones so that they can be reached quickly.

Once you arrive at the transplant center, you will need to give a blood sample for the antibody test. You will be cleared for surgery if the result is a negative cross-match.

To perform a kidney transplant in India, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. He or she will be given medication to make him or her sleep through the surgery. The anesthetic will be injected into his or her system through an intravenous (IV) line in his or her arm or hand.

Once asleep, the doctor makes an incision in your abdomen, places the donor kidney inside, connects the arteries and veins of the kidney to your own, and causes blood to flow through it.

Your doctor will attach the new kidney’s ureter to your bladder in order for you to urinate normally. The ureter is the tube that connects your kidney to your bladder.

Your doctor will leave your kidneys in place unless they’re causing complications, such as high blood pressure or infection.

Risks Involved in a Kidney Transplant

• a stroke
• an infection
• a heart attack
• bleeding and blood clots
• leakage from the ureter
• a blockage of the ureter
• rejection of the donated kidney
• failure of the donated kidney
• an allergic reaction to general anesthesia

The most serious risk of a kidney transplant is that your body will reject your donor’s kidney. However, it is rare for a patient’s body to reject the donor organ. The immunosuppressant drugs (i.e. drugs that suppress the immune system) you must take after surgery can cause side effects, such as –

• acne
• weight gain
• bone thinning
• increased hair growth
• a higher risk of developing certain skin cancers and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Your doctor should be able to discuss with you the risks of developing these side effects.

Tips For Recovery

It’s important to closely follow all of the doctor’s orders for your health. Below are some general guidelines that you should keep in mind:

1. Following surgery, you should avoid lifting heavy objects or engaging in strenuous physical work for at least six to eight weeks. It is important that you do not lift anything heavier for four to six months from the date of your surgery.
2. You should not drive for at least six weeks following surgery. Arrange for a friend or family member to help you during this time. Use your seat belt every time you are in a moving vehicle.
3. Your physician will recommend beginning with stretching exercises and walking. Other excellent forms of exercise include jogging, hiking, bicycling, tennis, golf, swimming, and aerobics. All of these exercises can help you regain your strength and you can begin gradually after your incision has healed.