Kidney Transplant
What is Kidney Transplantation?
A kidney transplant is an operation to replace a diseased or injured kidney with a healthy kidney from a donor. Family members or other compatible people can donate 1 of their kidneys. This type of transplant is called live transplant. People who donate their kidney can live a healthy life with 1 healthy kidney.
A person who has a transplant usually only gets 1 kidney. In rare cases, they may receive two kidneys from a deceased donor. Diseased kidneys are often left in place. The transplanted kidney is placed in the lower belly at the front of the body.
Why May I Need a Kidney Transplant?
If you have end-stage kidney disease, you may need a kidney transplant. This is a permanent state of kidney failure. It usually requires dialysis. Kidneys:
Remove urea and liquid waste from the blood in the form of urine. Urea is made when protein-containing foods, such as meat, poultry, and some vegetables, are broken down in the body. Urea is transported in the blood to the kidneys.
Balance salts, electrolytes such as potassium and sodium, and other substances in the blood.
Make erythropoietin, a hormone that helps form red blood cells.
It regulates blood pressure.
It regulates the fluid and acid-base balance in the body to keep it neutral. This is necessary for the normal function of many processes in the body.
Some conditions of the kidneys that can result in ESRD include:
recurrent urinary tract infections
Kidney failure caused by diabetes or high blood pressure
Polycystic kidney disease or other inherited disorders
glomerulonephritis, which is inflammation of the filtering units of the kidney
Hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare disorder that causes kidney failure
Lupus and other diseases of the immune system
obstacles
Other conditions, such as congenital defects of the kidneys, may cause the need for a kidney transplant.
There may be other reasons why your healthcare provider may recommend a kidney transplant.
What are the Risks for Kidney Transplantation?
As with any surgery, complications can occur. Some complications may include:
Bleeding
infection
Blockage of the blood vessels leading to the new kidney
Urine leakage or obstruction of urine in the ureter
Lack of function of the new kidney at first
The new kidney may be rejected. Rejection is a normal response of the body to a foreign object or tissue. When a new kidney is transplanted into the recipient’s body, the immune system reacts to what it thinks is a threat and attacks the new organ. For a transplanted organ to survive, drugs must be taken to trick the immune system into accepting the transplant and not attacking it as a foreign body.
Medicines used to prevent or treat rejection have side effects. The exact side effects will depend on the specific drugs taken.
Not everyone is a candidate for a kidney transplant. You may not be eligible if you have:
Current or recurrent infection that cannot be treated effectively
Cancer that has spread from its original location to other parts of the body
Serious heart or other health problems that make it unsafe to have surgery
Serious conditions other than kidney disease that will not improve after transplant
Failure to follow the treatment plan
There may be other risks, depending on your particular medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your transplant team before the procedure.