Replacing the kidney, which has lost its function due to chronic renal failure, is the procedure of transplanting the kidney from a person who has a live or brain death.
Although the dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) method seems to be an alternative to kidney transplant, the main purpose of these methods is to survive until a suitable transplant is available or if the patient is not suitable for kidney transplant. Comfort and longevity in life after a successful kidney transplant operation are among the most remarkable differences between dialysis methods and kidney transplantation.
While dialysis patients can get rid of toxic substances in their body for a few days a week, but only for a few hours, the person with kidney transplantation has this opportunity.
In Which Conditions Is Kidney Transplant Performed?
Each patient diagnosed with end-stage renal failure is evaluated for kidney transplant because at this stage, the patient’s kidney function is permanently impaired and has begun to endanger the patient’s life.
In Which Conditions Can Kidney Transplantation Not Be Performed?
Conditions where kidney transplantation cannot be done:
If kidney failure can be treated with any other treatment method
If the patient has an active infection during the kidney transplant
If there is malignant cancer that has recently appeared and cannot be cured
If the patient’s expected life is short
If the patient’s heart or lungs are too weak to support the transplant surgery
If you are actively using drugs
Primary oxalosis (In this case, both kidney and liver should be transplanted to the patient at the same time)
All patients without these problems are candidates for organ transplants.
What are the Stages of Kidney Transplant Surgery?
After confirming the suitability of the patient with renal impairment for transplantation, it is necessary to obtain a compatible kidney from one of the relatives of the patient up to the fourth degree or from a person who has brain death.
If the kidney is to be removed from the cadaver, the operation process begins 14-18 hours after the appropriate kidney is found. In kidney transplantation, the new kidney is placed in the right or left groin area and the old kidneys are usually left where they are. Kidney transplant operations usually take 2-3 hours.
Since there is no contact with the intestines during the kidney transplant operation, the patient may start eating shortly after the operation.
If the kidney is to be removed from a live person, the donor’s left kidney is first checked. If this kidney is suitable, it is preferred for transplantation. The kidney, which performs its functions more properly, is left in the donor.
After a successful kidney transplant surgery, if the kidney is removed from the live donor, the patient can be discharged on the fifth day. If the kidney is removed from the cadaver, it will take several days for the kidney to start working, and the discharge time will increase in this amount.
There is no harm in getting pregnant and having children 1-2 years after kidney transplantation.
What Should Be Considered After Kidney Transplant?
There will be some medications that the patient who is discharged should take during his life. The reason for using these drugs is to prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney. If these drugs are not used, no matter how long it passes, the patient’s body will reject the new kidney. For this reason, the patient needs to pay attention to what he eats and the medications he takes; When it is necessary to use a new drug, it should be reported to the healthcare team following the kidney transplant and get approval for drug use.
Issues to be considered after the transplant:
Care should be taken about blood pressure and food selection should be done accordingly.
Avoid foods that are fatty and high in carbohydrates.
Grapefruit consumption should be stopped in order not to decrease the effect of drugs that should be used continuously.
Exercises should be done regularly, especially walking.
Heavy work or sports should not be done to force the body.
Diabetes patients should not disrupt sugar controls.