Living Donor Kidney Transplant

A living-donor kidney transplant involves taking a kidney from a living individual and giving it to someone who requires it. The kidney recipient's kidneys have failed and are no longer working correctly. Only one kidney is required for wellness. As a result, a living individual can donate a kidney while maintaining his or her health. A living-donor kidney transplant is an alternative to getting a deceased donor's kidney. A family member, acquaintance, or even a stranger may give a kidney to someone in need.

Why it is done

People with end-stage renal disease have kidneys that are no longer functional. People with end-stage renal disease require waste removal from their bloodstream to keep alive. Dialysis is a machine-based method for removing waste. Another option is to have a kidney transplant. Most persons with advanced renal disease or kidney failure choose a kidney transplant. In comparison to a lifetime on dialysis, a kidney transplant has a lower chance of death and more dietary possibilities. There are certain advantages to having a living-donor kidney transplant rather than a deceased-donor transplant. The advantages of a living-donor kidney transplant include a shorter waiting time, avoiding dialysis if it has not been started, higher survival rates, and the transplant can be scheduled ahead of time provided the donor is authorized.

Risks

Living-donor kidney transplants carry the same risks as deceased-donor kidney transplants. Some of the hazards are comparable to those associated with any surgery. Others are concerned with organ rejection and the negative effects of anti-rejection medicines. Pain, infection at the incision site, bleeding, blood clots, and organ rejection are all potential risks. This is characterized by fever, tiredness, decreased urine flow, and soreness and tenderness around the new kidney. Side effects of anti-rejection medications. These include hair growth, acne, weight gain, cancer, and an increased susceptibility to infection.

How to prepare

If your doctor advises a kidney transplant, you will be directed to a transplant clinic. You have the option of selecting a transplant center on your own or from your insurance company's preferred provider list. After selecting a transplant center, you will be screened to see whether you meet the center's eligibility requirements. The evaluation may take several days and will involve a comprehensive physical exam, imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, blood tests, cancer screening, psychiatric evaluation, assessment of social and financial support, and any additional testing dependent on your medical history.

What to expect

• Living-donor kidney transplant usually involves a donated kidney from someone you know. It might be a family member, friend or co-worker. Family members related by blood are usually the most compatible living kidney donors.
• A living kidney donor also may be someone you don't know. This is called a non-directed living kidney donor.
• A living donor who wants to give you a kidney will be evaluated at the transplant center. If the person is cleared for donation, tests will be done to see if that person's kidney is a good match for you. In general, your blood and tissue type need to be compatible with the donor. If the donor kidney is a good match, your transplant surgery will be scheduled.
• If the donor's kidney is not a good match, there are several options. In some cases, your transplant team can use medical treatments to help your immune system adjust to the new kidney before and after the transplant to reduce the risk of rejection.
• Another option is taking part in a paired donation. Your donor may give a kidney to another person who is a good match. Then you receive a compatible kidney from that recipient's donor. This type of exchange often involves more than two pairs of donors and recipients, resulting in several people receiving a kidney.
• Once you and your donor are cleared for surgery, the transplant team will schedule your transplant surgery. They also will make sure you are still in overall good health and confirm that the kidney is a match for you. If everything looks good, you'll be prepped for surgery.
• During surgery, the donor kidney is placed in your lower abdomen. Blood vessels of the new kidney are attached to blood vessels in the lower part of your abdomen, just above one of your legs. The surgeon also connects the tube from the new kidney to your bladder to allow urine flow. This tube is called the ureter. The surgeon usually leaves your own kidneys in place.
• You'll spend several days to a week in the hospital. Your healthcare team will explain what medicines you need to take. They also will tell you what problems to look out for.

Results

After a successful kidney transplant, your new kidney will filter your blood and remove waste. You will not need dialysis. You will take medicines to prevent your body from rejecting your donor kidney. These anti-rejection medicines suppress your immune system. That makes your body more likely to get an infection. As a result, your doctor may prescribe antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal medicines.

It is important to take all your medicines as your doctor prescribes. Your body may reject your new kidney if you skip your medicines even for a short period of time. Contact your transplant team immediately if you have side effects that keep you from taking the medicines. After the transplant, be sure to perform skin self-checks and get checkups with a dermatologist to screen for skin cancer. Also, staying up to date with other cancer screenings is strongly advised.

Conclusion

Living donor kidney transplants provide an excellent treatment option with superior outcomes and shorter waiting times. They rely on the generosity of donors, careful medical evaluations, and advanced surgical techniques. This approach can save lives and restore health, offering hope to patients with end-stage renal disease.