What is Kidney Transplant?

Our kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on both side of our spine just beneath the rib cage. The main function of our kidneys is – to filter and remove waste and minerals and also fluid from the blood by making urine. Kidney Transplant in India is done by experts having decades of experience in treating kidney diseases.

According to the best kidney transplant surgeon in India, this treatment has become one of the most common organ transplant surgeries in India. During this surgery, kidneys that have stopped functioning normally are replaced by kidney from a donor (either from a living donor or a deceased donor). KTP is a lifesaving choice for millions of patients suffering with end stage kidney disease.

What happens when Kidney sstops to function normally?

If your kidney fails to function normally, then in that situation there will be buildup of harmful waste in the body, which leads to –

• Edema (fluid buildup),
• high blood pressure,
• unbalanced salts and acids in the blood,
• decrease in red blood cells,
• bone weakness.

All the above effects can be harmful, rather deadly for your heart, brain and skeleton.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure

You may be advised to undergo Kidney Transplant surgery in India if you have following signs of kidney failure or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)-

• Edema – swelling of the face, hands and feet,
• high blood pressure causing headache,
• frequent seizures,
• skin discoloration (due to low iron),
• urine color changes,
• severe bad breath that doesn’t get freshened even by brushing your teeth,
• depression and fatigue,
• itchy and irritated skin.

Treatment of Kidney Failure

Dialysis

• The most commonly used treatment module for end stage kidney disease is dialysis. This procedure helps in removing waste, extra water as well as chemicals such as potassium, calcium, sodium and acid from your body. The two types of dialysis are – hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
• During hemodialysis procedure, your bloodstream will be joined to a kidney machine which is placed outside of your body. This procedure is most often done thricea week and each session takes around 4 hours.
• However, Peritoneal dialysis is performed through a tube inserted in the belly. Dialysis does not cure kidney failure. Itonly replaces the work of your kidneys to make you feel better and live longer life.

Kidney Transplant

• Kidney transplantation surgery involves placement of a healthy kidney into your body.Your new kidney can perform all the functions that your failing or diseased kidney was not able to do.
• The new kidney is placed on the lower left or right side of your abdomen wherein it is surgically connected to the nearby blood vessels. Your surgeon who will be one of the best kidney transplant doctor in India, places the new kidney in this position and lets it to get easily connected to your blood vessels and bladder.
• He will then attach the vein and artery of new kidney to your vein and artery. The new kidney’s ureter is thereafter attached to your bladder in order to allow urine to pass out of the body.
• You should be aware that you need only 1 working kidney for healthy survival, so only 1 kidney will be transplanted during the surgery. The 2 original kidneys typically remain at their place and the new donor kidney will get placed in another area of your abdomen.
• The ureter or urine tube that is attached to thenewly donated kidney will then be attached to your bladder. With the successful completion of your kidney transplant surgery, your new kidney will start performing the task of filtering your blood and making urine, same as your own kidneys used to do before you had kidney disease.

What is the success rate of Kidney Transplant Surgery?

According to doctors from the best hospital for kidney transplant surgery in India, the success rate of kidney transplant with a living-donor kidney has been reported as 97% at one year and 86% survival rate at five years. Whereas, the success rate after transplant with a deceased-donor kidney is reported at 96% at one year and 79% at five years.

Benefits of Kidney Transplant Surgery

After you have undergone a successful kidney transplant surgery, you will be able to live a longer and better-quality life than you would have if you were on dialysis. You would also have lesser health complications.

Some of the benefits of undergoing Kidney transplant in India include:

• You will no longer need to undergo dialysis,
• You will feel healthier and energized as compared to earlier,
• You will be able to achieve overall better health condition, and
• You will be having lesser restrictions on your diet.

Things that you need to do during your recovery

It is essential to closely follow the instructions given by your treating doctor after you get discharged from the hospital. Below are some general guidelines:

• Do not lift heavy objects or do strenuous physical work for at least 6-8 weeks post-surgery.
• Do not drive for at least 6 weeks post-surgery. Plan beforehand to ensure that someone from your family is available to help you out during this time. Do not forget to put seat belt while you are in a moving vehicle.
• Exercising – Your treating doctor will recommend starting with stretching exercises and walking. Other exercises like aerobics, jogging, cycling, hiking, golf and swimming can be resumed gradually. All of these exercises can help you recuperate and regain your earlier strength asyou gradually start after your incision has healed.
• You should avoid contact sports as they might lead tointernal injury to your transplanted kidney.

Will you be able to live a normal life with a kidney transplant?

According to the best kidney transplant doctor in India, the answer to this is YES.

Many people have been leading healthy and fulfilled lives after undergoing kidney transplant treatment in India. Presently, the one-year kidney transplant survival rate is reported to be 95% and the average 3-to-5-year survival rate is 90%. By this, we mean that 9 out of 10 people who have received a transplanted kidney are expected to be alive for at least 5 years after their surgery. However, this is only an estimation as no one can predict exact life span.