Kidney Transplant: Procedure and Risks
When kidneys stop working effectively, you have two options: dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis removes waste products from your body, but it doesn't replace all the functions of healthy kidneys. In some cases, treatment can help slow the progression of kidney failure.
With a transplant, your body can continuously remove waste products, excess fluid, and perform functions such as producing erythropoietin, a hormone that prevents anemia. Transplanted kidneys help convert vitamin D into its active form for bone health and excrete certain toxins. Importantly, they also help regulate blood pressure. Kidney transplants often provide a better quality of life than dialysis.
Assessment for Kidney Transplant
Several key factors are assessed before a kidney transplant surgery. Typically, patients are referred for transplant when they are nearing or have started dialysis.
Age and ethnicity are not significant factors in determining transplant eligibility. What matters most is whether you are healthy enough to undergo surgery and manage post-operative care.
Factors such as heart disease, lung conditions, and other health problems are evaluated through tests to determine if the risks are manageable.
Once tests are completed, specialists including surgeons, nephrologists, cardiologists, and other healthcare providers will discuss your case to make a decision.
If you are considered fit for a transplant, the team will explain the risks and benefits to you. Many patients are placed on a waiting list for a donor kidney.
A series of tests will also be conducted to ensure you haven't been exposed to infections.
In some cases, you may have friends or family willing to donate a kidney. Live donor transplants often provide better long-term outcomes compared to deceased donor transplants.
Whether you receive a donor kidney depends initially on matching blood types. While perfect matches are rare due to genetic differences, it is still possible to find a good enough match for a successful transplant.
The surgery typically lasts around three hours, and post-operative care is essential for long-term success.
