Kidney Transplant Surgery

What is a kidney transplant Surgery?

A kidney transplant Surgery is a process wherein a damaged kidney is replaced from a healthy and properly working kidney. Any individual whose kidney is found to be a good match for the patients can donate one his/her kidney and can live a healthy life even after donating one of their kidney.

How does a kidney functions in our body?

Kidney, the bean shaped organ is an essential part of the human anatomy placed on the either side of the spine, behind the abdominal organs and below the rib cage. Usually, a person is born with two kidneys performing critically to make the body fit and healthy.

• Kidney purifies the blood removing all waste and enabling the body to pass that waste in form of urine, preserving water and salts required by the body.
• Helps in releasing several hormones and regulates blood pressure.
• Stimulates the production of red blood cells and releases a hormone called erythropoietin.

Why is Kidney transplant required?

Person suffering from end stage renal disease (ESRD) is recommended to go for Kidney transplant. In some of the cases the patient is kept on dialysis and the waste is removed from the blood artificially, not by kidney. Some of the conditions wherein the kidney transplant may be recommended for people with end stage renal disease (ESRD), a permanent condition of kidney failure that often requires dialysis (a process used kidney can result in ESRD are:

1. Frequent urinary infections
2. Kidney failure caused due to diabetes or High Blood Pressure.
3. Patient suffering from polycystic kidney disease, Lupus or Glomerulonephritis.

What is the procedure?

Usually performed under general anesthesia the Kidney Transplant Surgery takes 2 to 4 hours to complete. In this procedure the new kidney is placed at a different location usually somewhere in the lower abdomen, without removing the original kidney. Sometimes, it becomes vital to remove the original kidney causing uncontrollable high blood pressure and frequent kidney infections. Also, if the original kidney is deeply enlarged then also it becomes necessary to remove the original one. Bleeding, infection and obstruction in blood circulation are some of the common complications involved in this procedure.

What are the risks involved in this procedure?

Like any other surgery, Kidney Transplant Surgery does have risks. Some common risks involved in this procedure are:

• Chance of heavy bleeding and infection post surgery
• Blockage of the blood vessels to the new kidney
• Leakage or blockage of urine
• Lack of functioning of the new kidney at initial stage.
• Rejection of the body to accept the new Kidney
• Chronic infection that cannot be treated completely.
• In some cases it may lead to Metastatic cancer.