Kidney Transplant

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Dr. Jitendra Kumar

Information:

A kidney transplant procedure is a surgical intervention aimed at replacing a non-functioning kidney in an individual with a healthy one obtained from either a living or deceased donor. Whenthe kidneys lose their capacity to filter bodily fluids effectively, it leads to the accumulation of harmful waste and excess fluid in the body. This accumulation can subsequently elevate blood pressure and culminate in kidney failure, medically known as end-stage kidney disease. End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have incurred a substantial loss, approximately 90%, in their normal functionality.

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.

End-stage kidney disease may be attributed to various common factors, including

  • Diabetes
  • Chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Chronic glomerulonephritis, which involves inflammation and eventual scarring of the small filtering units within the kidneys, known as glomeruli
  • Polycystic kidney disease

Individuals afflicted with end-stage renal disease necessitate either dialysis, a process that removes waste from their bloodstream using a specialized machine, or a kidney transplant to sustain their life. If you are seeking information about kidney transplant options in Faridabad, you can explore various aspects such as locating a suitable Kidney Transplant Hospital in Faridabad, consulting with experienced KidneyTransplant Doctors in Faridabad, understanding the associated kidney transplant cost, and the intricacies of the kidney transplant surgery.

During the procedure

Kidney transplants are performed with general anesthesia, so you're not awake during the procedure. The surgical team monitors your heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen level throughout the procedure.

During the surgery
  • The surgeon makes an incision in the lower part of one side of your abdomen and places the new kidney into your body. Unless your own kidneys are causing complications such as high blood pressure, kidney stones, pain or infection, they are left in place.
  • The blood vessels of the new kidney are attached to blood vessels in the lower part of your abdomen, just above one of your legs.
  • The new kidney's ureter — the tube that links the kidney to the bladder — is connected to your bladder.
After the procedure

After your kidney transplant, you can expect to:

  • Spend several days to a week in the hospital. Doctors and nurses monitor your condition in the hospital's transplant recovery area to watch for signs of complications. Your new kidney will make urine like your own kidneys did when they were healthy. Often this starts immediately. In other cases it may take several days, and you may need temporary dialysis until your new kidneys begin to function properly. Expect soreness or pain around the incision site while you're healing. Most kidney transplant recipients can return to work and other normal activities within eight weeks after transplant. No lifting objects weighing more than 10 pounds or exercise other than walking until the wound has healed (usually about six weeks after surgery).
  • Have frequent checkups as you continue recovering. After you leave the hospital, close monitoring is necessary for a few weeks to check how well your new kidney is working and to make sure your body is not rejecting it. You may need blood tests several times a week and have your medications adjusted in the weeks following your transplant. During this time, if you live in another town, you may need to make arrangements to stay near the transplant center.
  • Take medications the rest of your life. You'll take a number of medications after your kidney transplant. Drugs called immunosuppressants (anti-rejection medications) help keep your immune system from attacking and rejecting your new kidney. Additional drugs help reduce the risk of other complications, such as infection, after your transplant.
Results

After a successful kidney transplant, your new kidney will filter your blood, and you will no longer need dialysis.

To prevent your body from rejecting your donor kidney, you'll need medications to suppress your immune system. Because these anti-rejection medications make your body more vulnerable to infection, your doctor may also prescribe antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal medications.

It is important to take all your medicines as your doctor prescribes. Your body may reject your new kidney if you skip your medications even for a short period of time. Contact your transplant team immediately if you are having side effects that prevent you from taking your medications.

After your transplant, skin self-checks and checkups with a dermatologist to screen for skin cancer and keeping your other cancer screening up-to-date is strongly advised.