Have you or your loved one undergone a
kidney transplant? We understand you might be feeling perplexed and are here to clear up all your doubts and confusion. Kidneys are one of the most vital organs in the human body and are responsible for filtering out waste and extra fluid from the blood to produce urine.
Overview
Kidney transplantation
Kidneys are located below the rib cage on either side of the spine. Over time, due to various factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, a poor lifestyle, and unhealthy eating habits, the kidneys lose their well-functioning ability, and this can result in severe issues such as end-stage renal disease, also known as kidney failure.
A kidney transplant is a procedure where the unhealthy or diseased kidney is replaced with a healthy one. People who are at the last stage of chronic kidney disease, i.e., end-stage kidney failure, have only two options to choose from. Namely;
- Long term dialysis
- Kidney transplant
These two options provide them the only chances of survival. If, everything goes well then a successful kidney transplant can add 10-15 years to a person’s life.
Types of kidney transplant
There are basically two types of kidney transplant:
- Living donor kidney transplant
- Deceased donor kidney transplant
The benefits and risks of kidney transplant
Everything in this world has certain pros and cons. Let’s try and briefly analyse the benefits and risks of kidney transplant.
Benefits- Various studies show that there is an increased chance of survival in LKDT. The quality of life of the patient becomes much better as he no longer needs dialysis, which in turn has a positive impact on his work and family life. He can travel without having to worry about dialysis. There are fewer restrictions on his diet, and his energy levels increase, which most certainly affects his fertility and sex life.
Risk- Every surgery or operation has some degree of uncertainty involved. We cannot rule out the possibility of infections, bleeding, and other surgical complications. There are chances that the patient’s body might reject the new kidney. He has to be on constant immunosuppressant medications. Chances are that kidney disease can return to the transplanted kidney.
Factors affecting the success rate of kidney transplant
It is almost impossible to list out each and every factor, as it varies from one individual to another. Some of the basic and commonly known factors are:
- Age
- Living or deceased donor
- Comorbid conditions
- Cold ischemic time
- Duration of hospital stay; so on
Bottom-line
Transplantation is a major surgery, and its outcome varies from person to person. As you grow older, the ability of your body to adapt gradually reduces. Undoubtedly, kidney transplantation increases the chances of survival and is the most preferred line of treatment among people with end-stage kidney disease. Blue Bliss offers you the assistance and support of the top nephrologists in Bangalore and the best infrastructure in the city.
