Question 1

What are cadaveric donors? How is it possible for a dead person’s kidney to start working after transplantation?

Accepted Answer

donors are deceased people. They are people who have died because of an accident or injury. Either they or their family members have chosen to donate organs after death. When a person is brain dead, the heart keeps pumping – for hours or even days. As a result, the internal organs are still working and alive, though the person is no more. If a person is declared brain dead and has chosen to donate their organs after death, the person's body is rushed to the operating room and the organs for donation are removed and preserved until they can be transplanted into the recipient. Thus, a dead person can donate a kidney that will start working in the recipient's body.

Question 2

Which is the best hospital for kidney transplants in India?

Accepted Answer

Health's nephrology department has the most skilled and experienced kidney transplant team. Our team of specialists work together to perform even the most complex transplant surgeries. They also provide premium-quality care at affordable costs. The team's post-operative care and follow-ups are best-in-class. NH maintains high-quality hygiene standards and has state-of-the-art facilities for peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis. For live kidney donors, the surgeons at NH perform minimally invasive keyhole surgery to remove the donor's kidney. It ensures a quick recovery for the donor. The transplant team also make sure the recipient has a rapid recovery. NH also has advanced diagnostic facilities and top-class infrastructure that ensure the best kidney care. Thus, NH is one of India's best hospitals for kidney transplants.

Question 3

How dangerous is a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

Although kidney transplantation can help treat several kidney diseases and kidney failure, it does not remove the possibility of a kidney disease returning after a transplant. The risks of kidney transplant lie with the surgery itself, rejection of the donor kidney and the adverse effects of medications such as immunosuppressants administered to prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney. Some of the risks that may arise during the procedure are:

Blood clots
Leaking from the ureter connecting the kidney to the bladder
Infection
Rejection of the new kidney
Heart attack or stroke

Question 4

How much does a kidney transplant cost in India?

Accepted Answer

The charge for a renal transplant varies depending on the condition of your kidneys and from one hospital to another. Most kidney transplant procedures do not require imported material. A kidney transplant surgery could cost around 5 to 20 lakhs.

Question 5

What precautions should I take before a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

Although kidney transplantation can help treat several kidney diseases and kidney failure, it does not remove the possibility of a kidney disease returning after a transplant. The risks of kidney transplant lie with the surgery itself, rejection of the donor kidney and the adverse effects of medications such as immunosuppressants administered to prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney. Some of the risks that may arise during the procedure are:

Blood clots
Leaking from the ureter connecting the kidney to the bladder
Infection
Rejection of the new kidney
Heart attack or stroke

Question 6

Is there a difference between a living or deceased donor transplant?

Accepted Answer

There are subtle differences between a transplant from a living owner and a deceased donor. In the case of a living donor transplant, you get a healthy kidney from a person who is alive. In the case of a deceased donor transplant, you get the kidney from a person who is dead. Living donor kidneys last longer in comparison to deceased donor kidneys. Moreover, they also work better since they are outside the recipient’s body for less than the deceased donor. You can get a living donor kidney transplant even before you are on dialysis.

Question 7

How long does it take for a kidney to wake up after transplant?

Accepted Answer

Hospital recovery after a kidney transplant may take four to five days if you are free from complications. On the contrary, the time of your stay in the hospital varies depending upon your medical condition. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, then after a renal transplant, you should have to keep it in control. It can create insurmountable barriers in your kidney transplant recovery.

Question 8

Is there a special diet to follow after a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

Your diet plays a vital role after a kidney transplant. Maintaining an ideal diet is important in keeping a healthy weight and exercising regularly. It will also help prevent high blood pressure, blood sugar, and excessive weight gain. After a transplant, you should follow a diet which is low in salt and fibre. The ideal diet should contain fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, reduced-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lots of fluids. It’s also important to be careful while handling foods, such as washing hands before touching any food items, reducing eating outside, and avoiding high-risk foods that can cause infection.

Question 9

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

To become a potential transplant candidate, you must meet specific requirements, which depend on the particular organ required. Some of the factors that can make you an ideal candidate for a kidney transplant are:

If you’ve end-stage kidney disease and are on dialysis
If you have advanced chronic kidney disease at stage IV or V with an estimated GFR lesser than 20 ml/min
If you’ve chronic kidney disease at stage IV with GFR less than 30 ml/min
If you’ve chronic kidney disease with type 1 diabetes that has failed to respond to medical treatment

Question 10

Will my new kidney start working immediately after the transplant surgery?

Accepted Answer

When a newly transplanted kidney starts working, it depends on how good a match it is to the recipient's body. A kidney from a blood relative is more likely to start working sooner than a kidney from an unrelated donor or cadaveric donor. This is because the family member’s kidney will be a better blood and tissue-type match to the recipient and the body will accept the new transplant faster. A new kidney can start working the same day after surgery or take a few weeks to begin functioning.

Question 11

When is the best time to get a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

if you find a matching live donor kidney transplant, then it’s best to complete the transplant even before you start your dialysis. This is known as a pre-emptive transplant. However, if you have been on dialysis for quite some time, it’s still possible to have a live donor kidney transplant. In most cases, a live donor kidney transplant is recommended more than remaining on dialysis. In case of a deceased kidney transplant, it’s not possible to schedule the transplant in advance.

Question 12

What happens if I reject my new kidney?

Accepted Answer

Immunosuppressants can be used to help your body accept the new kidney, however, there still can be times when your body recognises your transplanted organ as a foreign object. Studies reveal that 10-20% of patients experience at least one rejection episode. However, rejection doesn’t necessarily mean your new kidney isn’t working, or you’ll lose your new kidney. Rejections occur in the first 6 months of the transplant. In case you develop any rejection symptoms such as flu-like tendencies, reduced urine production, excessive weight gain, and fatigue, then you should contact the transplant team.

Question 13

What happens during a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

if you receive the kidney from a living donor, then your doctor can schedule your transplant in advance. However, when it comes to a deceased donor, then you will have to rush the moment it is found. To this end, sometimes, pagers are provided by transplant hospitals so that you can be reached quickly. After reaching the hospital, the first step is collecting your blood sample for the antibody test. This helps to determine whether you are a match for the surgery or not. The surgery is performed after administering general anaesthesia. An incision is made into your abdomen to implant the new kidney. The arteries and the veins of the kidneys are connected. The new kidney’s ureter is attached to your bladder to help you urinate properly. The existing kidneys are kept within the body unless there is a need to remove them, like an infection.

Question 14

How long does the kidney transplant surgery take? Can I eat or drink before the surgery?

Accepted Answer

Kidney transplant surgery takes two to three hours as it has to be done with the patient under general anaesthesia. It would be best if you did not eat or drink anything, including water, after midnight the day before the renal transplant procedure. Avoid heavy meals the evening before surgery. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to prepare for the surgery and what you can eat or drink.

Question 15

What are paired kidney matches?

Accepted Answer

Paired kidney donors are a pair of people who want to donate their kidney to a family member or friend but are not a good match. For example, if patient A is not an excellent match to donor B, but is a good match to an unrelated patient C. At the same time, patient C’s donor D is an excellent match to patient A. In such a case, donor D will donate a kidney to patient A and donor B will donate a kidney to patient C. Thus, both patients get a kidney from unrelated donors.

Question 16

Why are the existing kidneys not removed when a new kidney is transplanted?

Accepted Answer

Research has found that removing the existing kidneys of a person while transplanting a new donated kidney increases the chances of surgical complications and even death. Therefore, the failed kidneys are left in place, and the new kidney is placed on one side of the lower part of the abdomen.

Question 17

What is the life expectancy after a kidney transplant?

Accepted Answer

People in the age group of 40 can have a life expectancy of around 22 years after a kidney transplant, while people in the age group of 50 have a life expectancy of 16 years. People in their 60s have a life expectancy of 11.5 years after a successful kidney transplant.

Question 18

Why do I need a kidney transplant? Why can’t I remain on dialysis instead?

Accepted Answer

Dialysis is a process where a machine does the job of filtering and purifying the blood. However, the kidney also performs other functions, like producing hormones to regulate blood pressure and maintain electrolyte balance. A dialysis machine cannot do this. Haemodialysis is a type of dialysis that uses an artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) to filter waste from blood.

Also, the lifelong cost of dialysis can work out to be expensive. You will also have to go to a dialysis centre regularly to get this done. There are many cities where these centres are not available nearby. Also, dialysis makes your blood super-clean and nutrient-depleted, and this blood keeps getting more toxic until the next dialysis session.

A kidney transplant works out to be more economical than lifelong dialysis. Kidney transplant prices in India are much lower than the cost of dialysis. It also lets you have an everyday life as it is natural. Not only this, the survival rate and life expectancy of transplant patients are better compared to people on dialysis. For example, it was found that the life expectancy of a person in the age group of 40 is 7.3 years on dialysis but 22 years after a transplant.

After a successful transplant, you can live a healthy life every day and even indulge in physical activities like swimming, cycling, etc. However, a person on dialysis will not be able to lead an everyday, healthy life and may not be able to travel to places where there are no dialysis centres. Thus, kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for a person with end-stage kidney disease.

Question 19

What is the cost of a kidney transplant in India?

Accepted Answer

Kidney transplants in India cost between Rs. 5-6 lakhs (Purely indicative). After the surgery, it could cost Rs. 15,000 a month for the aftercare and another Rs.10,000 a month for immunosuppressive drugs. Kidney transplant costs in Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata can be more than the cost in tier 2 cities like Jaipur.

Question 20

What is the kidney transplant success rate?

Accepted Answer

The success rate of kidney transplants in India is among the highest in the world. The current success rate is around 90%. However, several factors influence the success rate of a kidney transplant, such as the choice of hospital, the expertise of the surgical and post-operative care teams, the tissue matching and compatibility of the donor, whether the donor is blood-related, and more. Post-surgical infection is a considerable risk that can affect the success rate, so choose a hospital with the best hygiene standards to make sure you do not get any infections.

Kidney Transplants