Kidney Transplant at Apollomedics Hospitals

Kidney transplantation or renal transplantation is a process of transplanting a kidney to a patient with end stage kidney disease. Kidney transplantation is classified as deceased-donor or living donor transplantation depends upon the source of donor. Living-donor transplantation is further classified as genetically related or unrelated transplants, depending on the biological relationships between the donor and recipient.

A kidney receiver (recipient) generally needs one kidney but in some rare cases, the patient may receive two kidneys from a deceased donor. Mostly, the infected or diseased kidneys are left at their places and a new kidney is placed in the lower abdomen.

How does the kidney work?

Our body only takes nutrients from the food we eat and convert it into energy. After consuming all the nutrients the wastes products are left behind in the blood and bowel.
The kidneys and urinary system consume chemicals such as potassium and sodium and remove the waste called urea from our body and maintain acid-base balance.

The kidneys are located below the ribs and their functions are:

• Remove liquid waste from the blood
• Maintain balance of acid and base in our blood
• Produce erythropoietin (a hormone that helps formation of RBC)
• Regulate blood pressure

Nephrons are the filtering unit for urea from the blood in our kidneys. Urea and water together make urine and pass through the urinary tract.

Investigations before kidney transplant

• Blood Tests: To access your priority on the donor list and to help improve chances of organ rejection.
• Diagnostic Tests: These are performed to access the overall health status and kidneys. The tests include: X-rays, ultrasound, kidney biopsy and dental examination. Women may have to undergo Pap test, gynecology evaluation and mammogram.

Steps before kidney transplant

Following are the steps involved:

• It starts with a well explained conversation with a nephrologist and kidney transplant surgeon; they explain each and every aspect and will allow you to clear all your queries.

• You have to sign a consent form that gives permissions to doctors to perform a surgery. Read carefully and ask unclear things.
• If you are in routine dialysis, you will have to undergo another dialysis before transplant.
• If you are prepared for a living transplant, you have to be on fast for 8 hours before operation. In case of cadaver transplant, the recipient has to be on fast after getting notified that the kidney is available.
• For helping you relax, you may get a sedative.
• Other preparations may be done on the basis of your physical and medical conditions.

During the procedure

Before kidney transplant you have to stay in hospital for one day. The procedure may depend on your physician’s practice.

Generally a kidney transplant follow the below steps:

• You will be approached to take off attire and given an outfit to wear.
• An intravenous (IV) line will be begun in your arm or hand. Further catheters might be implanted in your neck and wrist to screen the status of your heart and pulse, just as for acquiring blood tests. Substitute sites for the extra catheters involve the subclavian (under the collarbone) region and the groin.
• The hairs at the surgical area will be removed.
• A catheter will be implanted into your bladder.
• You will be situated on the surgical table, lying on your back.
• The procedure will be performed while you are snoozing under general sedation. A tube will be inserted through your mouth into your lungs and attached to a ventilator which will start working as your lung to breathe.
• The anesthesiologist will persistently screen your heart rate, pulse, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the operation.
• The skin over the surgical site will be wiped with an antiseptic.
• The surgeon will make an incision in the lower abdomen on one side.
• The surgeon will examine the kidney of the donor visually.
• The donor kidney will be set into the abdomen. A left donor kidney will be inserted on your right side; a right donor kidney will be embedded on your left side. This permits the ureter to be examined simply for linking with your bladder.
• The renal artery and vein of the donor kidney will be sutured (sewn) to the outer iliac artery and vein.
• After the artery and vein are joined, the blood flow through these will be checked for bleeding at the suture lines.
• The donor ureter (the tube that channels urine from the kidney) will be attached with your bladder.
• The incision will be closed with staples or stitches.
• The discharge may be implanted to the incision side to reduce swelling.
• A dressing will be applied.

After the procedure

After the operation, you will be shifted to observation. Once your blood pressure, pulse, breathing comes under control and becomes stable then you will be shifted to intensive care unit (ICU) or room in hospital. Kidney transplant patients have to stay several days to week in hospital for monitoring.
In the case of cadaver kidney transplant, a kidney may take a bit longer to produce urine and may require dialysis but in living donors, the kidney starts producing urine immediately.
A catheter will be placed in the bladder to drain the urine and measure the urine production and kidney function effectively.

You will receive IV fluids until you are able to take sufficient quantities of food.

Immunosuppressant (anti-rejection medications) will be given with other medications and closely monitored to optimize it.

Your blood samples will be frequently taken to monitor the kidney function and other organs like liver for the effect on it.

You can walk several times in a day from the very next day of procedure (not bed ridden situation).
Take medications for pain relieving as prescribed by physicians only.

All the included departments like dietician, nursing, physical therapist and others will instruct how to take care and get recovered rapidly.

After going home if you feel any below symptoms, report your physician at the earliest:

• Fever - may be sign of rejection or infection.
• Redness, swelling or bleeding from the incision area.
• Increased pain near or over incision are - may be a sign of rejection or infection.