Kidney Transplantation

Overview

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for people with kidney failure. This allows patients to stop dialysis, decrease their fluid and diet restrictions, and enjoy a much better quality of life.

DONOR SURGERY
Donors for kidney transplant is usually a living donor, and the other source is from a non-living donor. Patients who have had kidneys donated from living donors usually enjoy higher success rates than those who receive organs from non-living donors, since there is less chance for rejection.
A living donor must be in good health and free from diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, kidney or heart disease. Living donors usually are between 18 and 60 years old. The living donor must undergo a series of tests to determine if they are truly compatible with the recipient. This procedure is performed by laparoscopic method, through small keyhole incisions in the abdomen, and the kidney is delivered via a lower abdominal incision. Advantages of this laparoscopic method – faster recovery, minimal postoperative pain and early discharge from the hospital

RECIPIENT SURGERY
Kidney transplant surgery lasts about three to four hours. During surgery, the transplanted kidney is placed in the pelvis near one of your hip bones. The surgeon connects the blood vessels from the transplanted kidney to the blood vessels in the pelvis.

The ureter (urine drainage tube) from the transplanted kidney is connected to your bladder so urine can be excreted. A stent (a flexible, narrow tube) is inserted into the ureter going into the bladder to keep the connection open. This stent will be removed six weeks after surgery by a procedure called a cystoscopy. This procedure is done as an outpatient procedure in the transplant clinic.
Seven to ten days after surgery, the staples are removed in the outpatient clinic. Patient is advised regular follow-up with the transplant team.