Unveiling the Wonders of Kidney Transplants: How This Surgery Offers a Second Chance

Unveiling the Wonders of Kidney Transplants: How This Surgery Offers a Second Chance

Kidneys are two vital organs that are located on either side of the spine at the back of a person and below the rib cage. They are bean-shaped. Their main function is to track down the waste and then extrude it out of the body through the process of urination.

 However, when the kidneys are unable to filter, toxic materials and fluids may accumulate within the body and the gentle organ may raise the blood pressure and result to kidney failure. In kidney failure, the organs are little or not able to filter and drain the waste by close to 90 percent, which is essentially, called end-stage renal disease.

The leading causes of kidney disease are diabetes, hypertension, glomerulonephritis where the filters in the kidney are inflamed, and polycystic kidney disease.

 These conditions require a person to undergo dialysis which has the help of a machine to take out the waste product in their body or to have a kidney transplant. Kidneys are transplanted with patients who are between 45 years to 65 years old, and the physician tends to look for the nearest age’s donor and the survival of transplanted kidneys is about one decade. A person goes through two to four operations on kidneys in his or her lifetime. However a transplant is not recommended if the person has a recurring infection, poor prognosis time, or uses drugs or alcohol.

How does a kidney transplant surgery offer a second chance?

A kidney transplant can offer a new life to the recipient. If the transplant succeeds, it improves the person's strength, stamina, and energy. So the person can play sports, and do physical activities that they were not able to do before. It enables the person to return to a normal routine and resume their earlier lifestyle without being bound to dialysis occasionally. The patients can go back to work within a few months of the transplant. They can have a non-restricted diet and fluid intake which was limited with their failing kidneys earlier. The person has more freedom to travel, go on vacations, and is more in charge of their lives than before. The sex life of a person greatly improves after a kidney transplant and women who wish to get pregnant can also try to have a baby after a transplant. The doctors however suggest waiting for around a year after the transplant.  

Additionally, anemia which is usually common during kidney failure is taken care of after the kidney transplant. And so is high blood pressure. A person requires fewer high blood pressure medications after they receive a kidney transplant. Studies indicate that a person who has received a transplant, lives longer than the person who is undergoing dialysis. The one-year kidney survival rate is 95% and the three to five-year survival rate is 90%.  This indicates that the person who has had a transplant will be alive after five years of surgery. 

Hence kidney transplant offers a beacon of hope to all those people who have end-stage renal disease where the person ‘s life is significantly compromised. The process improves the quality of life of the person and adds many more years to their life.  

Risks of kidney transplant   

With all the positives one must keep in mind the risks involved in the transplant procedure like all the other operations. The person may experience breathing problems, bleeding, or infection as the person is required to take immunosuppressants for the body to accept the new organ. The person should avoid lifting heavy objects or doing any strenuous work for six to eight weeks after the transplant. They should also refrain from driving a vehicle for at least six weeks and wear a seat belt while in a moving vehicle. Heavy exercises should be avoided and only the ones that improve strength should be included in the daily schedule like jogging, hiking, cycling, swimming, aerobics, and golf. 

The person should keep themselves hydrated, not eat raw and uncooked foods and ensure that they include sufficient proteins in their diet as it helps in building muscle strength and helps in recovering the lost weight. The grapefruit poses a severe interaction with the immunosuppressants and should therefore be strictly discouraged. Nonsteroidal drugs should be prevented since they lead to the dysfunction of kidneys. Some of the OTC medications such as anti – histamines and antacids can alter the effectiveness of other drugs while some vitamins and herbs together with other transplant medications can cause interaction. Any medications, including prescription and over the counter drugs, should only be taken or changed after speaking with the doctor.

Fortis has a team of senior and renowned kidney transplant specialists like surgeons, nephrologists, anesthetists, and medical staff.  

The hospitals have advanced technology and infrastructure from highly sophisticated facilities to offer the best possible care to the patients. They provide comprehensive services for donors as well as recipients and also include pediatric kidney transplants in their medical services. There is assurance of the best quality of services and patient care by strict adherence to international standards from evaluation to post-transplant care. Along with the most advanced set-up, the staff are specially trained to be compassionate and offer proper support, guidance, and psychological help to patients and their families across their transplant journey.