What Precautions Should Be Taken After Kidney Transplant

By Author: zawadia otieno
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The surgery to remove a kidney is a major operation that requires a general anaesthetic. This means the donor will be asleep for 2-3 hours during the operation. Traditionally, surgeons used a technique called “open nephrectomy” to remove the kidney. This involves the surgeon making an incision (15-20cm) long in the side of the abdomen to remove the kidney. Although this surgery is still used by many surgeons.

A kidney can also be removed using a “keyhole” or laparoscopic surgical techniques. This type of surgery is becoming more common. It involves the use of a small incision (1-3cm long) through which instrument is inserted to remove the kidney. A larger incision is made to remove the kidney out.

Keyhole surgery can take longer to perform than open nephrectomy, but the recovery time is quicker because the incisions are smaller.

Gleneagles Global hospitals is the best hospital in India for kidney transplant offering all kinds of a kidney transplant. The hospital is helmed by the best kidney transplant surgeon in India at best competitive price. It is one of the most successful centres for kidney ...
... transplant hospitals in India.

What is kidney transplantation?

Kidney transplantation is also known as renal transplantation is a surgery that involves implantation of a healthy kidney from a deceased or living donor into a person whose kidney is no longer functional.

There are two types of donor:

Deceased donor:

Organs that are taken from brain dead or sometimes cardiac death patients are used to give new life to patients suffering from kidney failure or end-stage renal disease(ESRD). Both kidneys of brain dead patients are removed and placed in two patients with ESRD. Such transplantation is governed by NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization). Hospitals with facilities of transplantation maintain a waiting list of ESRD patients for this purpose.

Living donor:

Usually, healthy individuals have two kidneys and he or she can donate one kidney without any implications for his/her future life. If any healthy blood group matched the relative of an ESRD patient then a living person can donate a kidney to them.

Overall success rates of kidney transplant in India are very good. Transplants from deceased donors have a success rate of 85% to 90% for the first year. This means that after one year, 85-90 out of 100 transplanted kidneys will function well. Living donors transplants success rates have a 90-95% success rate.

Why is Kidney transplant done?

Kidney transplantation is the definitive treatment for patients with ESRD. ESRD are patients suffering from chronic kidney disease and require regular dialysis. In such cases, kidney transplantation helps patients to get a new normal life by implanting a healthy kidney.

What to expect before the transplant?

Before kidney transplant surgery, both donor and the recipient have to undergo certain investigations related to fitness for surgery, proof of relationship and matching of the kidney. The donor is evaluated if he/she is fit for the donation and not suffering from any disease which may impact his life after donation. Certain legal formalities have to be done for the approval of transplantation by the committee.

Activities that happen on admission for transplant:

Dialysis is done one day before the kidney transplant surgery.
Documentation and consent form is to be filled and signed.
The patient is not allowed to eat at least 8 hours before the transplant.
Immunosuppressants (anti-rejection) medications are started two days before the transplant for the recipient.
The transplant team informs the patient about the procedure and clarifies any doubts related to the transplant.
Additional induction of immunosuppressant medicines is given to the patient night before the surgery depending upon the matching of the donor to prevent any chances of kidney rejection.

During the transplant:

During the kidney transplant procedure, an incision is made by the surgeon at the lower side of the abdomen and the donor’s kidney is placed at the abdomen. The blood vessels of the donor’s kidney are connected to arteries and veins of the patient. The ureter of the donor’s kidney is also connected with the bladder of the patient.

A siliconised stent is placed inside the donor's kidney to the patent urinary bladder which is usually removed two weeks after the surgery by a simple procedure called flexible cystoscopy. A urinary catheter and drainage tube are also placed which are removed before discharge from the hospital. The abnormal incision is closed by the fine staples or suture. The patient is usually kept for 7 days in the hospital.

Gleneagles Global is one of the most foremost and successful centres for kidney transplant hospitals in India. They have a team of leading doctors and surgeons who perform kidney transplantation. They also have well-maintained labs and surgical rooms with advanced machines to perform the surgery with ease.

After the transplant:

After 5 to 7 days of surgery, the patient usually makes a lot of urine in the tune of half of the litre per hour which usually sets to 2-3 litres per day. His creatinine is improved to normal. Immunosuppressants medicines are given and monitored as per their level of blood. Even after getting discharged, the patient needs to visit the hospital for regular checkups initially twice a month and weekly for next month. He has to continue immunosuppressant medicine for his entire life.

Gleneagles Global hospitals is the best hospital in India for kidney transplant offering all kinds of a kidney transplant. The hospital is helmed by the best kidney transplant surgeon in India at best competitive price.

Advantages of kidney transplant:

Kidney transplant is one of the best ways to treat the patient suffering from end-stage renal disease. Some of the advantages of kidney transplant are:

Improved quality of life
No more hassle of dialysis
Treats kidney failure
Increase life expectancy

What you need to know about kidney transplantation:

Just like other transplant surgeries, renal transplantation is also associated with certain risks and complications that may occur after kidney transplant surgery. Some of the complications, the recipient may experience after the kidney transplant surgery are:

Reaction to medications
Rejection of the door’s kidney
Infection
Bleeding
Failure of the donor's kidney

Hence, regular follow-up check-ups and investigations are required for early diagnosis and treatment of any of these complications. Overall success rates of kidney transplant in India are very good.

A Head Consultant and a medical professional having 11 years+ experience in the field of medicines. Having a passion for writing.