Kidney transplant: procedures, preparation, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is a kidney transplant?

A kidney transplant is a surgical operation performed to remove a healthy kidney from a living or dead donor in a patient with kidney disease. This procedure is usually performed in patients with end-stage renal failure.

This surgery for kidney failure is considered to be the best treatment for patients whose kidneys are no longer functioning. The reason is, this method can increase the chances of living a longer and healthier life.

This surgical procedure may be performed before or while undergoing dialysis (dialysis). Keep in mind that this operation, which is also called a kidney transplant, is not a cure for kidney failure.

You still need to take medication every day as directed by your doctor to make sure the immune system doesn't reject the new kidney. Apart from that, you also have to have regular checkups.

The success of a kidney transplant depends on your preoperative health condition and how you keep your kidneys healthy. Therefore, this treatment process is quite long because there are many things that need attention.

When do I need to have a kidney transplant?

Kidney transplant surgery is not done haphazardly. The doctor will usually check your health condition first. Then, he will describe what are the requirements for receiving a kidney transplant, which are as follows.

• Be in good health for surgery.
• The benefits of transplantation outweigh the risks.
• Have tried other treatments and failed.
• Understand the risks of surgical complications.
• Knowing that you will be taking immunosuppressant drugs and doing routine checks.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for more information. It is important for you to discuss all possible treatment options for treating kidney failure that you are experiencing.

Preparation

What needs to be done for a kidney transplant?

If the doctor sees kidney transplant as the only option, the next step is to evaluate the health condition in the hospital. This evaluation is known as the pre-transplant examination.

During this process you may be in the hospital for a few weeks to months. You will also take blood tests and take x-rays to determine if the body can accept a donor kidney.

Waiting for a kidney donor

If the doctor and the surgery team have confirmed that you meet the requirements, the next step is to find a kidney donor. In some cases, your kidneys can come from family members or friends who have the same blood, type, and tissue as you.

If a live donor is not available, your name will be added to the waiting list until the kidney from the deceased donor is available. This is because there are many patients who need a new kidney rather than the number of kidney donors, so it takes a long time.

How long you have to wait depends on many things. One of them is the compatibility of the kidneys with your kidneys which is based on several factors, namely:

• blood group that must match the blood of the donor,
• HLA factor (a genetic marker on the surface of white blood cells), and
• antibodies to see the reaction after the kidneys are put in the body.

During this waiting period, try to stay in touch with your doctor and health care team. In addition, don't forget to prepare a few things before starting a kidney transplant, such as:

• prepare a bag of clothes that have been packed,
• eat healthy food and exercise regularly,
• taking medication as directed by a doctor, as well
• routine checks and other treatments, such as dialysis.

The process of waiting for a kidney transplant to be done takes a long time. Therefore, your doctor may advise you to undergo dialysis and take medications that support kidney function while waiting.

Procedure

How is the kidney transplant process?

If you have received a kidney donor, whether a living donor or not, your doctor will schedule an initial operation. You and the donor will be operated on simultaneously in an adjacent room.

A team of surgeons will perform a nephrectomy. Nephrectomy is a procedure to remove a kidney from a donor. Meanwhile, another doctor will prepare a kidney recipient patient.

If you are on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney, you should be ready to go to the hospital when a kidney becomes available.

After that, you will provide a blood sample to test for antibodies. If the result is negative, it means that the antibodies have not reacted and the transplant can continue.

During the kidney transplant, you will be given general anesthesia to keep you unconscious during the operation. This organ transplant usually takes 3-4 hours.

The kidney transplant surgery will begin with the doctor making a small cut in the lower part of the stomach. Then, the arteries and veins of the new kidney will attach to your arteries and veins. After that, the ureters from the new kidney will connect with your bladder.

Most cases show the new kidney will form urine as soon as blood flows through the kidney. However, sometimes it can take several weeks before this bean-shaped organ starts working.

What happens after a kidney transplant?

After a kidney transplant, you may feel sick and dizzy when confused. Even so, many donor recipients report feeling much better immediately after surgery.

However, you will still need to stay in hospital for about a week to recover from the surgery. That way, the doctor and the care team can monitor your condition to make sure no complications occur.

Lifestyle

What about lifestyle care after kidney transplant?

Once you are discharged from the hospital, the success rate of a kidney transplant depends on this, that is, advanced care. Here are some things that need to be done after undergoing a kidney transplant for a healthier life.

Record the development of body health

One of the things you need to do after a kidney transplant is to have regular kidney checks. The doctor will advise you to record your own health conditions in a daily journal, such as body temperature, blood pressure, and weight.

It is important to do this so that when you are consulted, the doctor can detect any problems or side effects of a kidney transplant. Take this note with you every time you visit the doctor.

Follow a healthy diet

You may be familiar with a special kidney failure diet to keep your kidneys functioning properly. If you're used to it, it's okay to stick to it after your doctor's approval.

However, you also still need to discuss your diet after kidney transplant surgery with nutritionists and doctors. This is so that you get adequate nutrition.

Here are some things that doctors often recommend to patients with kidney failure after undergoing a transplant.

• Consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Increase fiber intake.
• Drink low-fat milk to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels.
• Eat lean meat.
• Drink enough water, according to the needs recommended by your doctor.
• Eat low-fat and low-salt foods.

In addition to recording daily conditions and paying attention to diet, the doctor will also recommend activities that need to be done after surgery, namely:

• a less strenuous exercise routine, such as walking and swimming, as well
• take medication regularly to avoid the risk of rejection of the new kidney.

Dealing with frustration

Children and adolescents who undergo kidney transplants have the same procedure as adults. However, living with chronic kidney failure can be frustrating at times.

In addition, immunosuppressant therapy can be very difficult in adolescents because it has several side effects. Medicines used to stop the body from rejecting the new kidney can cause a variety of things, such as:

• acne,
• weight gain, as well
• growth of facial and body hair in women.

If you are the parent of a child who is recovering from kidney surgery, accompany your child in any situation.

In some cases, teens sometimes choose help by talking to a therapist or joining a support group. Feelings of frustration and stress can affect your physical condition which can also affect your child's new kidney.

Therefore, don't forget to pay attention to the symptoms of side effects that arise after a kidney transplant.

Complications

Can a kidney transplant fail?

In the middle of the recovery process after surgery, you must continue to be careful because there is a risk of it happening rejection . Rejection or rejection is the most common complication experienced by patients after receiving a kidney transplant.

This condition can occur because the body is not used to the new kidney. As a result, the immune system perceives the kidneys as foreign and takes a fight to attack the kidneys to protect the body.

There are two types of kidney rejection, namely acute rejection and chronic rejection. Acute rejection is a type of rejection in the body that occurs no later than after the operation has been performed. Meanwhile, chronic rejection can occur years after a kidney transplant.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after undergoing a kidney transplant, contact your doctor immediately because you fear rejection.

• Fever above 38 ° C.
• Experiencing flu symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
• Feeling pain around the kidneys.
• Swelling of the hands and feet due to water retention.
• Increase in body weight of more than 4 kg suddenly.
• Urinating less frequently.

Doctors may find it difficult to diagnose kidney rejection at an early stage. Therefore, you must still take medication to prevent this even though you feel well.

Acute renal rejection will usually be resolved by increasing the dose of immunosuppressant drugs. That way, the immune system that attacks the new kidney in your body can be controlled.

Patients who experience chronic rejection usually lose new organs. This assumption can arise because the medical team cannot diagnose this condition until the new kidney tissue is damaged.

As part of the aftercare for kidney surgery, the doctor will also give you antiviral and antibacterial drugs to prevent this. Therefore, patients are expected to always take medication according to the doctor's instructions.

What are the complications of this kidney surgery?

Apart from rejection of the new kidney, there are other complications that you need to be aware of after undergoing a kidney transplant, including the following.

Immunosuppressant side effects

Most kidney failure patients who undergo transplantation experience side effects due to the use of immunosuppressant drugs, such as:

• swollen face,
• weight gain,
• blood sugar and high blood pressure,
• bone disease,
• cataract,
• gastric acid,
• changes in skin color and texture, as well
• pimples and hair appear on the face.

Short term complications

For those of you who feel some disturbance a few months after the transplant, there are possible complications that are experienced, including the short term:

• blockage of blood vessels,
• leakage or blockage in the ureter,
• the work of the kidneys is not functioning,
• acute rejection of the kidneys,
• urinary tract infection,
• fluid retention, and
• temporary damage to nerves.

Long term complications

Apart from the short term, there are also long-term complications that may occur years after the kidney transplant, namely:

• kidney failure,
• blockage of the ureter, and
• narrowing of the arteries that supply the kidneys.

You can reduce your risk of complications by following your doctor's instructions before surgery, such as fasting and stopping certain medications. If you have further questions, consult a doctor.