The primary reason why a Kidney Transplant Cypress may be needed is when you have kidney failure or end-stage renal disease, which is a permanent condition. The kidneys are essential organs in your body that play significant roles, including eliminating liquid waste from the blood in urea form, regulating blood pressure, and acid-base balance in your body. Damaged kidneys put you at risk of death and may cause swelling due to water retention. You may develop kidney failure due to several medical conditions, including repeated urinary infections, polycystic kidney disease, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and obstructions.
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What is a kidney transplant?
A kidney transplant is a surgery or an operation to replace a diseased and non-functional kidney with a healthy one from a donor. A donated kidney may be from a living person or a deceased individual. A compatible living donor can be one of your family members or other people as well. A surgical procedure involving a kidney from an alive person is called a living transplant. Most people who donate a kidney can function properly and lead healthy lives with one kidney. People needing a kidney transplant often get one kidney. However, if both kidneys are damaged, two donor kidneys can be obtained from a deceased person.
How do you prepare for a kidney transplant?
Preparing for a kidney transplant involves finding a suitable medical facility with experienced specialists who have performed the surgical procedure before. When choosing a transplant center, you need to pay attention to the following details.
- The number of transplants performed annually at the medical facility
- Survival rates for patients who get transplants in the center
- Costs for the before tests, surgery, and hospital stays
- Additional services are offered at the transplant center, such as travel arrangements and support groups
Risks for kidney transplant
A kidney transplant has its risks, just like any other significant surgery that include:
Infections
Patients may develop minor infections, including urinary tract infections, a few months after a kidney transplant. Other illnesses such as colds and flu are also common for some people. Severe infections like pneumonia can also occur, requiring immediate medical attention.
Blood clots
One out of 100 kidney transplants develops blood clots in the artery connected to a healthy kidney. If the blood supply is blocked, removing the donated kidney may be an option. However, certain medications may be administered by your doctor to dissolve the existing blood clot.
Acute rejection
Acute rejection means that your body recognizes the donated kidney as a foreign tissue causing the immune system to attack the kidney. Kidney failure is a common complication that affects one in three people during the first year after surgery. Most patients may have acute rejection without knowing as this complication causes no symptom and can only be detected by a blood test. Immunosuppressants can be used to treat acute rejection within a limited time frame. Anti-rejection medications can result in side effects such as bone thinning, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and excessive hair loss or growth.
Much goes on when it comes to kidney transplants, including finding a matching donor for you. To learn more about kidney transplants, book a session with your doctor at Houston Kidney Specialists Center.