Kidney transplant is a long-term solution for kidney failure patients. Those with kidney failure need dialysis to continue their lives. Because the blood needs to be filtered to get rid of foreign substances, this is possible mechanically only with dialysis. Depending on their condition, patients should undergo dialysis once or more than once a week. It is a tiring and time-consuming treatment for these patients. In addition, the state of patients may worsen as they undergo dialysis. Therefore, if appropriate, kidney transplantation is very effective. In other words, the kidney transplant is worth it!

What Is Kidney Transplantation?

Kidney transplantation is a surgical method applied for the treatment of kidney failure disease. Every organ has vital importance for the human body. Because organs work in cooperation and ensure the continuation of life, in this cooperation, each organ has a different task. The kidneys filter the waste materials in the blood and excrete them with urine. It also helps to maintain the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance. When these wastes cannot remove, they accumulate in the body and cause some diseases. People whose kidneys have failed and become inoperable need a treatment called dialysis. The purpose of dialysis is to remove foreign substances accumulated in the blood. This process mechanically filters the waste in the bloodstream as the kidneys stop working. However, the patient must devote much time to dialysis, which is tiring.

Kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment to provide a permanent cure. With transplantation, the patient gets rid of dialysis and returns to his previously active life. However, finding a suitable kidney is not always enough. Transplantation is not appropriate if a patient with kidney failure has an active infection and is overweight.

Who Needs Kidney Transplantation?

Kidney transplantation is a method applied for individuals whose kidneys have completely stopped working, that is, bankruptcy. Most of the patients who have already reached this stage receive dialysis treatment. Every patient undergoing dialysis is asked their opinion on whether they have had a kidney transplant.

Patients take some drugs for life after kidney transplants. However, post-transplantation patients should be careful about nutrition. Transplant status can be risky and vital for cancer patients or patients who have recovered from cancer treatment, bone infections, hepatitis infections, severe cardiovascular diseases, and liver diseases. Therefore, even if the patient has kidney failure, it may not be suitable for transplantation. The individual must meet all the conditions to survive this heavy surgery successfully and regain his health. Doctors transplant kidneys to patients with kidney failure who meet all requirements and are healthy enough.

How Is Kidney Transplant Performed?

The question of how a kidney transplant is done depends on the donor’s condition. If the person whose healthy kidney is to be removed dies, doctors immediately plan a kidney transplant. If the tissue is compatible, they immediately prepare the patient to be transplanted for surgery.

If the donor is a healthy individual, the operation can be planned together with the patient and the donor. Primarily, some antibody tests are performed for tissue and organ compatibility. If the result is compatible, there will be no obstacle to kidney transplantation. General anesthesia is given to the patient to perform the surgery. After anesthesia, a healthy kidney is placed in the recipient’s body through an incision in the abdomen. All arteries and veins are then connected to the body. After the successful placement of the organ in the body, blood flow from the kidney begins. After that, the ureter of the healthy kidney is connected to the bladder, and the patient can urinate healthily.

The other kidney, which is unhealthy, is left in the body if it does not cause blood pressure or infection. A kidney transplant is an essential operation. Therefore, there are some risks of a kidney transplant. The patient may have an allergic reaction to general anesthesia. Bleeding during surgery is also among the risky situations that can be experienced. In addition, the formation of blood clots in the organ connected to the body, leakage from the ureter, or obstruction of the ureter is among the possible risks. Some infections may also occur after surgery. Failure of the transplant due to the rejection of the transplanted kidney by the immune system is also among the risks. The patient should accept the transplant operation by considering all these risks.

What Should Be Done After The Transplant?

After the transplant, the patient stays in the hospital for about one week. This is to intervene immediately in the complications that may occur, thus protecting the patient’s health and the kidney.

Usually, urination starts immediately after the transplant, but it may take a short time for the kidney to filter the blood. For this reason, it may be possible for the patient to undergo dialysis several times after transplantation. After the 8th week following the transplant, the patient is expected to return to his everyday life. After the transplant, the patient should have regular check-ups.

After the operation, analyses and tests are frequent. For this reason, it may be necessary to reside close to the operation center for a while. After a kidney transplant, some medications are prescribed to prevent the body from rejecting the kidney. These drugs must use for life. Otherwise, the body may reject the kidney, and the patient’s condition may worsen. These drugs also reduce the risk of infection after the operation.

If you want to get information about kidney transplantation and lead a healthy life, you can have your controls done without wasting time.