Kidney Transplant Procedure Have Saved Almost Millions Of Lives In The Past Decades

Poonam Cmi
3 min readMay 23, 2022
Kidney Transplant

A kidney transplant is a major procedure that requires a high degree of care. While it is a life-changing operation, the risks and benefits of kidney transplant surgery are serious. Blood tests are used to find a match and check donor’s priority. Other diagnostic tests will be done to evaluate the overall health and kidney function of patient. The team also looks at medical history, physical exam, and interview. They’ll weigh all the facts to determine whether patient is good candidate.

After a Kidney Transplant, the patient is expected to spend about three to seven days in the hospital. In most cases, the new kidney starts working immediately after surgery, but it may take up to a few weeks to fully function. A drain may be left in the patient’s abdomen for a few days to collect fluid and check for leaks

Rejection can happen for a few reasons. Most commonly, patient have a fever or tenderness over transplanted kidney. The blood creatinine level will rise. Patient may also notice a rise in blood pressure or swelling. This is common, but it can look like other medical problems.

The waiting time for a kidney transplant is significantly longer than a deceased donor. While the organ recovery using both procedures is equally good, the patient must undergo lifelong monitoring. A living donor’s kidney can benefit a family member with a compatible tissue or blood type, or it can help move a relative up the waiting list of deceased donors. However, the benefits of living donation far outweigh the risks. A living donor’s kidney is a precious gift that can help a loved one in need.

A living kidney donor can be a relative or friend. A deceased donor may be available at any time. If a donor is not related, a cadaver kidney is often used. The transplant center will evaluate the donor to ensure they match and that it’s healthy before arranging the transplant. Once the match is made, the recipient and donor can then schedule the surgery. While this can take several weeks, it’s worth the wait. After a kidney transplant, patients are monitored closely for several weeks. Close monitoring is necessary to monitor the transplanted kidney’s health and make sure the new kidney does not reject the old. Several blood tests and imaging studies are performed before the transplant. Some patients may need to continue taking their medication after the transplant. The transplant is typically successful, and many patients report a full recovery after the procedure. But there are certain side effects and precautions that must be taken afterward.

The post-transplant period will require close monitoring of the patient’s kidney function, and adjustments to medications. Patients should also be vigilant for immunosuppression-related side effects, such as infection or cancer. The transplanted organ may be rejected, and this occurs in about 30% of transplant recipients. While this is not fatal, it can be a serious issue. In the case of rejection, doctors should consider the patient’s overall health and well-being during this time.

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