Categories: Nephrology

Kidney Transplant

A kidney transplant is a major surgery where surgeons remove a disease or dysfunctional kidney and replace it with a healthy donor kidney. In many cases, the doctors may leave the dysfunctional kidney in the body as long as it cannot cause any harm to the surrounding tissue or lead to any complications. Some people need to have one kidney replaced, and others require both.

Indications for Kidney Transplant

There are certain indicators that allow doctors to determine if a person needs a kidney transplant. In many cases, these are health conditions or based on the performance of the kidney. Although there are a lot of health problems that cause kidney issues, doctors will only recommend surgery if a person is not responding to other treatments or if they feel other treatments are not an option. Some common indicators include:

Kidney Transplant Candidacy

Just because a person needs a kidney transplant does not mean that they are a candidate for one. Some people are not healthy enough to receive a transplant. Others suffer from certain health conditions or illnesses that make transplants for risky or less likely to be successful. Doctors take many things into consideration when trying to determine if a person is a candidate for a kidney transplant. Those things include:

  • Age
  • Overall health
  • Whether one or both kidneys are bad
  • Length of time spent on dialysis
  • Diabetes status
  • History of other transplants

Medications for Kidney Transplant

Kidney surgery is a major surgery and doctors often prescribe many different types of medication to help the patient recover and to help them get through the surgery safely. Some patients may require more or different medications than others, depending on other illnesses and health conditions as well as other medications they take regularly. Some of the most common types of medications given to kidney transplant patients include:

  • Antibiotics
  • Pain medications
  • Anti-rejection drugs like prednisone, cyclosporine, tacrolimus.
  • Blood pressure medications

Complications of Kidney Transplant

As with most surgeries, there are risks and complications associated with a kidney transplant. The biggest worry is that the patient’s body rejects the transplant. Anti-rejection medications can help, but they have their own risks and complications. Some patients may experience mild complications and others may be severe. If a patient experiences anything out of the ordinary, they should seek medical attention immediately. Some common complications and risks associated with a kidney transplant include:

  • Anesthesia reaction
  • Ureter leakage
  • Infection
  • Rejection of the donated kidney
  • Failure of the donated kidney
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

Prognosis

The prognosis for most patients is good. As long as the donor’s kidney is not rejected and the patient follows the doctor’s care routine, they can recover from surgery successfully and live a full life. The 20-year survival rate for kidney transplant recipients in the United States is 77 percent. Some patients do have to return to dialysis even after receiving a transplant, and many will have to take medication for the rest of their lives.

This post was last modified on July 24, 2023 10:23 am

Recent Posts

Mental Wellness: Steps to Take to Thrive in Today’s World

In an era where the pace of life seems to be constantly accelerating, safeguarding our mental wellness has never been… Read More

1 day ago

What is Chest Physiotherapy?

When you are healthy, and your lungs are clear, it becomes easy to breathe. Occasionally, you feel like coughing, which… Read More

1 day ago

Exploring Vaping as a Smoking Cessation Tool – Insights and Approaches

As Sweden continues to advance its public health initiatives, the debate around smoking cessation methods, including vaping, gains prominence. This… Read More

1 day ago

7 Pieces of Practical Advice for Opening Your Private Healthcare Practice

Starting a private practice is very exciting and quite terrifying all at once. It takes a lot of hard work… Read More

1 day ago

How Digital Marketing Grows Your Orthopedic Practice

For the orthopedic practice to flourish in the highly competitive healthcare market of today, it is not enough to have… Read More

1 day ago

Your Child’s Dental Champion: Finding A Trusted Pediatric Dentist

Providing good oral hygiene for your child plays an important role in their health development. Healthy teeth and gums, which… Read More

1 day ago

Considering Your Choices For A Planned Or Unplanned Pregnancy

The news of pregnancy is often a rollercoaster of emotions an invigorating affirmation of plans, an echo of fate, or… Read More

1 day ago

6 Ways Spirituality Influences Your Personal and Professional Life

Exploring the intricate and often kaleidoscopic world of spirituality is akin to stepping into an artist's workshop, where the canvas… Read More

2 days ago

Discovering Affordable and High-Quality Dental Care

Searching for the right dental care that balances affordability with quality can seem challenging. Whether you need routine cleanings, urgent… Read More

2 days ago

5 Ways to Save Money on Prescription Drugs

A lot of people need prescription meds almost every day, and a good portion of them are even life-saving enough… Read More

6 days ago