Kidney Transplant

Introduction

A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person into the body of a person who has little or no kidney function.

The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and convert them to urine. If the kidneys lose this ability, waste products can build up, which is potentially life-threatening.

This loss of kidney function, known as end-stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant.

It's possible to partially replicate the functions of the kidney using a blood filtering procedure known as dialysis. However, this can be inconvenient and time-consuming, so a kidney transplant and Kidney Care Indore is the treatment of choice for kidney failure whenever possible.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

It’s a disease with permanent damage to kidney. It has five stages depending on amount of kidney function. In early stages, patient may not have any symptoms. Symptoms arise once kidney functions fall below 10 % as Nausea, vomiting, decrease appetite, body ache, itching, excessive fatigue, swelling and breathing discomfort may start.

When is Dialysis or Kidney transplant required?

When kidney functions fall below 10 or symptoms as mentioned above arise. Since transplant requires 2-3 weeks of preparation so dialysis is initiated to improve patient condition at the earliest.

Which is better: Dialysis or Kidney Transplant?

Kidney Transplant is better than dialysis as it gives longer life, better quality of life and better rehabilitation to earn livelihood. Females after transplant can give birth to children. Though initially Kidney transplant looks costly but afterward maintenance cost is lows. On the other hand, cost on dialysis increases with times.

What are the types of kidney donors for kidney transplant?

2 Types of donors: CADAVER or LIVING. In India 95 % kidney transplants are Live Related Donor as waiting time for cadaver kidney donor is prolong and unpredictable. Prolong waiting may worsen patient’s health.

Who can be donor from family members?

If a family member is willing to donate then matching blood group donor with age from 18 to 70 years can be chosen from mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter. If no one is fit then extended family members like blood related uncle, aunt, cousins or in-laws can be chosen.
We prefer blood group compatible donors like donor should have either SAME or ‘O’ blood group as ‘O’ can donate to any blood group. A patient of ‘AB’ blood group can take kidney from any blood group. +/ – matching not required in kidney transplant.

What if blood group of willing family member is not matching?

If blood group of willing family donor is not matching then we can do EITHER “PAIRED DONOR” where we exchange kidney from donor of other patients OR we can do ABOi Kidney Transplant.We are maintaining a list of Patients awaiting PAIRED DONATION and doing ABOi Transplant as well at Apollo Hospitals Indore.

What is ABO Incompatible kidney transplant?

If donor’s blood group is NOT matching then wemake patient receptive for donor’s kidney using Plasmapheresis and Antibody therapy. This therapy requires additional 2 weeks preparation before kidney transplant and results are almost as good as Blood group matched kidney transplant.

Does a kidney donor becomes a kidney patient?

A thorough check up of kidney donor is done before transplant to assure medical fitness. Once kidney is removed, the remaining kidney increases its size and function by more than 50% in 2 weeks so deficiency of kidney function does not occur and Serum creatinine value remains normal. Donor can resume all her work after 4 weeks of transplant. Donor does not require any medication.

Can a child get kidney transplant?

Paediatric transplant is done once child’s weight is above 10 kg and till then managed with medicines or dialysis. We keep Grandpa/Grandma as the first possible donor. Results are excellent in Paediatric Transplant compared with dialysis as after transplant, child grows well, attends school and live a better life.

Where can we get our transplants?

Patient can chose any transplant centre looking at the competency of team and results. Apollo Hospitals Indore is successfully doing Paired Donation, ABO Incompatible and Paediatric Kidney Transplants with good results. We also do transplants with multiple Renal arteries in donor kidney. I am full time available in Apollo Hospitals, Indore and once monthly at Noble Hospital, Bhopal.