Kidney Transplant
What is Kidney Transplant ?
A kidney transplant is a surgery to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on each side of the spine just below the rib cage. Each is about the size of a fist. Their main function is to filter and remove waste, minerals, and fluid from the blood by producing urine.
When kidneys lose this filtering ability, harmful levels of fluid and waste accumulate in the body, which can raise blood pressure and result in kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost approximately 90% of their normal function. End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost about 90% of their ability to function normally.
Common causes of end-stage kidney disease include diabetes. Chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure. Chronic glomerulonephritis — an inflammation and eventual scarring of the tiny filters within the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease. People with end-stage renal disease need to have waste removed from their bloodstream via a machine (dialysis) or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
Why it's done
A kidney transplant is often the treatment of choice for kidney failure, compared with a lifetime on dialysis. A kidney transplant can treat chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease to help you feel better and live longer.
Compared with dialysis, kidney transplant is associated with:
- Better quality of life
- Lower risk of death
- Fewer dietary restrictions
- Lower treatment cost
Some people may also benefit from receiving a kidney transplant before needing to go on dialysis, a procedure known as preemptive kidney transplant.
But for certain people with kidney failure, a kidney transplant may be riskier than dialysis. Conditions that may prevent you from being eligible for a kidney transplant include:
- Advanced age
- Severe heart disease
- Active or recently treated cancer
- Dementia or poorly controlled mental illness
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Any other factor that could affect the ability to safely undergo the procedure and take the medications needed after a transplant to prevent organ rejection
Only one donated kidney is needed to replace two failed kidneys, making living-donor kidney transplantation an option.
Risk Factors
Kidney transplantation can treat advanced kidney disease and kidney failure, but the surgery isn’t a cure. Some forms of kidney disease may return after a transplant. The health risks associated with a kidney transplant include those associated directly with the surgery and rejection of the donor organ. Risks also include the side effects of taking anti-rejection medications (immunosuppressants) needed to prevent the body from rejecting the donated kidney. Deciding whether a kidney transplant is right for you is a personal decision that deserves careful thought and consideration of the serious risks and benefits. Talk through your decision with your family, friends, and other trusted advisers.
