Has the doctor ever talked to you about a "kidney transplant"? Or has someone in your family or friend had to do something like this? It's very normal to feel a little heavy and nervous when you hear this name. Who doesn't like the words "surgery" and "transplantation", right? But don't be afraid. We will talk about this very simply, in Sinhala that you understand, as if you were talking to a friend.
Simply put, what is a kidney transplant?
Think of our body as a car. This car has two filters, which are our kidneys. The main job of these two filters is to clean our blood and remove waste and toxins that the body doesn't need as urine. However, due to certain diseases, over time, the ability of these two kidneys to function gradually decreases, and eventually they stop working completely.
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a healthy person is transplanted into your body to replace one or two kidneys that are not working properly. It's like removing an old, dirty filter from a car and putting in a new one. This new kidney then takes over the job of cleaning the blood in your body .
How do you get a new kidney? (Types of donors)
There are two main ways we can achieve healthy kidneys. This is very important.
| Donor Type | What does this mean? |
|---|---|
| Living Donor | This means that a healthy person willingly donates one of their kidneys to you. This is usually a family member (mother, father, sibling), spouse, or close friend. This method is very successful because the kidney is a perfect match for the body. However, it is a bit difficult to find a donor like this. |
| Deceased Donor | This is a kidney taken from a brain-dead person. That is, someone who has died from something like an accident, but whose kidneys are in good condition. Many people have given their consent to donate their organs while they are still alive. Or this happens with the permission of their family. This type of transplant is the most common in Sri Lanka. |
The most important thing is to make sure that the blood type and other tissue types of the donor and recipient are compatible. The better this matching is, the more likely the surgery will be successful.
Why is a kidney transplant necessary?
A kidney transplant is only considered when your kidneys have stopped working completely. This condition is called "end-stage renal failure."
In this situation, you have two main options:
1. Dialysis: This involves using a machine to remove your blood from your body, filter out the waste products, and then put clean blood back into your body. This is something you have to do for hours a few days a week. Your life is largely confined to that machine.
2. Kidney Transplant: After a successful transplant, you will no longer need dialysis. You will be able to live a normal life, eat normally, and work freely.
In many cases, a kidney transplant is the best option for someone who is eligible rather than undergoing dialysis.
Who is eligible for a kidney transplant?
Not everyone can get a kidney transplant. There are certain qualifications that must be met. Also, there are certain reasons why someone may not be eligible. These decisions are made by a team of doctors after carefully examining you.
| Qualifications generally considered | Possible reasons for ineligibility |
|---|---|
| - End-stage renal disease and undergoing dialysis treatment. | - Having another illness, such as a serious heart condition that cannot be controlled. |
| - Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 20. | - Having an incurable, widespread infection throughout the body. |
| - Ability to thoroughly understand the instructions to be followed after surgery. | - Recently diagnosed or currently undergoing treatment for cancer. |
| - Being in good physical and mental health. | - Severe mental illnesses. |
| - Having good family support or social support to take care of you and help you. | - Having a history of not using the medication prescribed by the doctor properly or not following the instructions. |
Is age a problem? In fact, what matters more than age is your overall health. Kidney transplants have been successfully performed on very healthy, strong adults.
How is the surgery performed?
This may sound scary, but this is a very successful surgery in the world today.
This surgery usually takes between four and six hours .
This is what happens:
1. Where the new kidney is: Your old, non-functioning kidneys are usually not removed. While they are still in your body, your doctor will transplant the new kidney into your lower abdomen, either on the right or left side. Once placed there, it is easier to connect to the blood vessels and bladder.
2. Connection: The blood vessels ( arteries and veins) in the new kidney are connected to the main blood vessels in your leg. Then the tube that carries urine from the new kidney (ureter) is connected to your bladder.
3. Starting work: Once these connections are made properly, blood will flow to the new kidney, it will start working, and it will start making urine.
After surgery, you will stay in the hospital for about three days. During this time, the medical team will monitor you closely to make sure your new kidney is working properly and to see if there are any other problems. Sometimes it can take a few days or weeks for your new kidney to start working. You may need to go on dialysis temporarily during this time. This is normal.
What is "kidney rejection"? How can it be prevented?
This is the most important thing to pay attention to during a kidney transplant.
Our body has a very amazing defense system. We call it the Immune System. Its job is to recognize anything that comes from outside the body (like viruses, bacteria) and attack and destroy it. So, even a new kidney that is put into your body, your body sees it as a "foreign thing." Therefore, this defense system tries to attack, or "reject," that new kidney.
To stop this rejection, doctors will give you special medications. These are called immunosuppressive medications . Simply put, these medications slow down your immune system and "calm it down." This stops it from attacking the new kidney.
It is imperative that you take these medications for the rest of your life, exactly as your doctor tells you, without missing a single day. This is the best thing you can do to protect your new kidney.
What should I know during recovery?
It usually takes about six weeks to fully recover, but this varies from person to person. You need to take extra care of yourself during this time.
Activities and leisure
- Lifting weights: Avoid lifting heavy objects for at least two months. Ask your doctor what types of work are safe and what are not.
- Driving: Do not drive for at least six weeks after surgery.
- Sports: Avoid contact sports completely. They can damage the new kidney.
Things to be careful about when eating and drinking
Since your immune system is weakened, you need to be very careful about what you eat and drink.
- Water: Drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Staying well hydrated is very important for kidney health.
- Raw food: Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, or eggs. These are highly likely to cause illness.
- Protein: Eat protein-rich foods (fish, eggs, milk) to build your body during the recovery period.
- Stay away from this fruit: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice. These can interact negatively with some medications you may be taking.
- Painkillers: Do not take any painkillers, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like Ibuprofen or Naproxen, without consulting your doctor. These can be harmful to your kidneys.
- Vitamins and herbal supplements: Do not use any vitamins or herbal supplements without first consulting your doctor.
If you have these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.
After surgery, you will have to go to the clinic regularly. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms during your surgery, it could be a sign of rejection or infection. So, tell your doctor or hospital immediately .
- A fever of 100 Fahrenheit (37 Celsius) or higher.
- New pain or tenderness at the site of the new kidney transplant.
- Swelling (edema).
- Symptoms similar to those of a cold or flu, such as feeling lethargic, body aches, headaches, and nausea.
- A sudden, significant decrease in the amount of urine you pass.
- An unusual symptom that is different from your usual health.
How long does a transplanted kidney last?
This varies from person to person. But generally,
- A kidney taken from a living donor works well for about 12-20 years .
- A kidney taken from a deceased donor works well for about 8-12 years .
Some people have two or three kidney transplants in their lifetime and live normal lives. After a successful transplant, you can live a healthy, happy life. With today's technology, the success rate of these surgeries is as high as 90% to 95%.
Living with kidney disease is very difficult. But a kidney transplant can give you a new life and new hope. If you are afraid of this, do not be afraid, talk openly with your doctor. He will inform you about the most suitable treatment for you.
Take-Home Message
- A kidney transplant is a treatment that provides a much better quality of life and freedom than dialysis treatment.
- For the success of the surgery, a good match between the donor and the recipient is very important.
- It is imperative to take the immunosuppressive medications prescribed by your doctor throughout your life, without missing a single day.
- During recovery, you must be very careful about diet, protection from infections, and taking other medications.
- If you experience any unusual symptoms, notify your doctor immediately. You can get the best results by not being afraid and talking openly with your medical team.
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