ABOUT KIDNEY TRANSPLANT (LIVING RELATED DONOR)
Kidney transplant is a surgery aimed at the replacement of a kidney (or both) from a living or deceased donor to a patient with a chronic renal disease.
The kidneys are a natural filter of the human body as their main aim is to remove the waste substances from our blood. When for some pathologies they lose this ability, it means that the patient is suffering from a kidney failure. The only two options to treat a kidney failure, or end-stage kidney disease, is to have dialysis or to have a kidney transplant.
As it is possible to live with only one kidney, one healthy kidney will be sufficient to replace both failed kidneys and guarantee a healthy recovery for the patient. The transplanted kidney could be either of a compatible living donor or a deceased donor.
Recommended for
- Patients suffering from kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease
TIME REQUIREMENTS
- Number of days in hospital: 5 – 10 days.
- Average length of stay abroad: Minimum 1 week.
- Time off work: Minimum 2 weeks.
COMPARE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT (LIVING RELATED DONOR) PRICES AROUND THE WORLD
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| United States | 175000€ |
| India | 9869€ |
HOW TO FIND QUALITY TREATMENT ABROAD
BEFORE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT (LIVING RELATED DONOR) ABROAD
The patient will need to undergo to all the necessary exams to define if he is compatible with the living donor or deceased kidney donor.
The hair on chest and abdomen will be shaved and a laxative and blood transfusion could be administered.
HOW IS IT PERFORMED
After the patient will be totally numb and asleep, the surgeon will place the donor kidney in the lower abdomen in order to be connected to the iliac artery and vein of the receiver. After this, the bladder and ureter will be added and a small catheter could be inserted in order to drain a possible excess of fluid created during the surgery.
Anesthesia
A general anesthesia is necessary.
Procedure duration
Circa 3 hours.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT (LIVING RELATED DONOR)
Post procedure care
After the surgery the patient will usually spend 1 or 2 days in an intensive care unit before being transferred to the ward.
With a living donor kidney, patients can usually stop dialysis after the surgery as the kidney functions straight away. With donor kidneys from a diseases patient it can take longer for the kidney to function normally.
Kidney transplant patients need to take immunosuppressors. These drugs weaken the body’s immune system, to prevent the immune system from attacking the new kidney. As a result, patients are more vulnerable to infections and other diseases, and must take extra precautions to stay healthy.
Possible discomfort
- Pain in the abdomen and back, but medication will be provided to relieve the pain
- To help to keep the lungs clear, the patient could be asked to cough
- A catheter to drain the urine from the bladder will be inserted, and this could create the constat feeling of need to urinate, but is not permanent
- The drain inserted during the surgery might stay in fro 5 to 10 days and then has to be removed
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT KIDNEY TRANSPLANT (LIVING RELATED DONOR)
Success rates
Currently around 95% of kidney transplants survive for at least 1 year, 85 to 90% of transplants last for at least 5 years, and 75% of transplants last for 10 years or more (NHS Choices).
Potential risks
- Failure or rejection of the donated kidney
- Blood clots (thrombosis)
- Bleeding
- Infections
- Heart attack and stroke
Side Effect
The medications that help to prevent the donor kidney rejection could have several side effects. Among these: acne, osteoporosis and osteonecrosis, diabetes, hair loss or hair growth, high cholesterol, increased risk of skin cancer and lymphoma, and weight gain.
