Benefits and Risks of Kidney Transplant

Kidney Transplant surgery is a medical procedure wherein the defective kidney is replaced by a healthy kidney taken from a living or deceased donor. It is a treatment of last resort, performed when there is no possibility of restoring the function of the kidney back to good health, which is usually the case due to ailments like chronic kidney failure. It is also a preferred option compared to   repeated dialysis sessions for the remainder of the person’s life.

In the field of Nephrology although there are many risks to this procedure, there are immense benefits accrued from this as well, and it would be prudent for us to know both of them in order to make an informed decision.

Benefits of Kidney Transplant

• This is an excellent alternative to dialysis, provided there is a good match between the donor and recipient.
• The recipient can resume his/her normal, day-to-day activities in both personal as well as professional spheres of his/her life, although the person will have to take medications to prevent kidney rejection.
• A successful kidney transplant has a very good success rate, both in terms of the life span of the person as well as the quality of life post-transplantation.  This means, a significantly better quality of life and higher chances of living longer. Also, the dietary restrictions are relatively few compared to being on dialysis.
• This allows the recipient to have a more fulfilling and satisfactory life.
• For the donor too, the restrictions that are put in place after donating the kidney are beneficial to him/her if there is a family history of kidney diseases, as the restrictions act as prophylactic measures.
• A successful surgery may correct anemia and result in fewer blood pressure medications if the person had been suffering from hypertension before.

NU Hospitals is one of the best kidney care hospitals that evaluates each potential case, facilitating  and performing successful transplants solely on the basis of safety of and benefits to the patient.  The doctors take a holistic view of the entire case and consider both the advantages as well as risks, and only go ahead with this procedure if the former outweighs the latter. Here are some of the risks that need to be considered:

Risks of Kidney Transplant

• There are chances of rejection of the donor kidneys by the recipient’s system even in case of a match.
• There might be potential side-effects arising out of this process, including any adverse reactions to the anesthesia administered as part of the surgery, or due to infection or bleeding. These include acne, diabetes, excessive hair growth or hair loss, weight gain etc.
• Kidney transplant can increase the risks for some varieties of cancer.
• Regular health checks are mandatory for the recipient for the rest of his/her life.
• In rare cases, death may occur due to unexplained reasons even after a successful transplantation.

Kidney Transplant in India requires the hospital to first put the patient’s name on the recipient list and then wait for a suitable donor. Once the donor is available, both are briefed about the process and only then is the treatment carried out.