Kidney transplant: Do you really need it?

A kidney transplant can be a life-changing decision for you. An expert shares some insights about when you may need it.
kidney transplant
An expert tells you about kidney transplant. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Dr. Sujit Chatterjee Published: 3 Sep 2022, 15:30 pm IST
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A kidney transplant occurs when a person suffers from chronic kidney disease. Kidney transplantation is the permanent placement of a healthy kidney from a living or deceased individual into a patient whose kidneys no longer function properly. A kidney transplant can effectively treat chronic kidney disease and allow patients to live a normal life for years.

It may lead to the requirement of some tweaks in your diet and activities. But kidney transplant can be a life-saving decision for people.

Know about kidney transplant

In the case of kidney damage, the doctors recommend either dialysis or a transplant. In a kidney transplant, your doctor will fix the kidney from a healthy person into your own body. It can affect either one or both the kidneys. The healthy person or donor is the person whose blood type matches yours. Be mindful about kidney stones to see if you need a surgery for it.

kidneys
Rule out kidney stones. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

The doctors will only recommend a transplant when dialysis is not suitable for you. In case you have other medical conditions then a transplant might be dangerous for you. Such conditions include cancer, tuberculosis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, bone infection or Hepatitis.

Why do doctors recommend a kidney transplant?

1. Quality of life

According to studies, people who receive transplants live longer lives than those who receive dialysis. There is a greater probability of a higher quality of life. They don’t have to spend hours each week on dialysis, and they’re more likely to return to work.

2. Fewer limits on diet

A kidney transplant will ensure fewer long-term health problems than people have with dialysis.

3. More energy

Dialysis can at times take a toll on the body. It can cause problems ranging from anaemia, where you have fewer red blood cells, to heart disease.

Also read: 7 lifestyle hacks to maintain healthy kidneys

Energy in elders
Your quality of life could improve with a kidney transplant! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

When do you need a kidney transplant?

The transplant committee will tell you for a transplant when your kidney will stop working. Before the transplant, your doctor and the transplant committee will take many tests such as blood tests and approve the need for a transplant.
This makes sure that you are suitable for the kidney transplant process and only then the process is performed.

The factors considered before a surgery include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney matches in terms of blood group and tissue type, and the recipient’s age and overall health.

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Meanwhile, you will be on temporary dialysis for filtration. The medical diagnosis reveals whether a person needs a kidney transplant. Following are the conditions that may ask for a transplant:

* Congenital renal obstructive disorders
* Alport syndrome
* Nail – Patella syndrome
* Berger disease
* Goodpasture syndrome
* Polycystic kidney disease
* Hemolytic uremic syndrome

Such conditions may need a transplant, but it’s not always necessary. Your doctor will decide based on your condition and severity. You need to keep your kidney healthy in order to prevent any kind of kidney disease.

Choosing a good transplant hospital improves your chances of living a long and healthy life. The transplant is successful if the patient takes the necessary immunosuppressant medications and receives proper follow-up care after the procedure to prevent the body’s immune system from rejecting the new organ.

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About the Author

Dr. Sujit Chatterjee CEO, Dr L.H. Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai ...Read More

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