Every year, thousands of lives hang in imbalance only to get back in balance with the help of a kidney transplant. This is about 10% of the people around the world. A kidney transplant is a reviving medical procedure where a damaged or non-functioning kidney is replaced with a functioning and healthy one. The entire procedure stands as a beacon of hope for people facing end stage renal disease. Moreover, a kidney transplant procedure can save the lives of those who are facing the dead end in their health. How? Let us read out.

Kidney transplants are not only lifesaving but also the provider of vitality and freedom. It is often the last destination after dialysis. In most of the cases, it is done when the kidney is termed as a failure in the person’s body. Understanding kidney transplant conditions and procedures can raise awareness and save several lives at a time. 

Kidney Transplant Conditions

Kidney transplantation is a condition where damaged kidneys are replaced by the healthier ones. But what can be the conditions that are termed as damaged? 

1. ESRD: A recipient of kidney transplant must have the end stage renal disease, aka ESRD. This is a severe and extreme kidney dysfunction where the condition is almost similar to kidney failure. But the recipient must be free from other chronic conditions or infections including active cancer to ensure the success of kidney transplantation. 
2. The match: It is important that the donor and the kidney recipient match the blood type as well as tissues type to ensure the success of the procedure. A cross checking can decrease the risk of failure of the process.
3. Social and financial conditions: A strong support system in terms of social life and financial resources are a must to proceed with a kidney transplantation process. 
4. Lifelong additions: It is crucial for the recipient to follow lifelong immunosuppressive medications to avoid any organ damage in future.

Becoming a Kidney Donor

Now, being a kidney donor can create two situations: living kidney donation as well as deceased kidney donation. 

Living kidney donation: The entire act of living kidney donation is said to be selfless and mostly done by family members or friends of the recipient. Although, it is definitely possible to be done by strangers as well. By donating a kidney, the living donors offer a new hope and life to the recipient who might have died due to kidney failure in no time.

But it is important to note that not everyone is eligible for kidney donation. People who can donate a kidney or come up for it, have to undergo several evaluation procedures and analysis. This may include medical tests, matching of blood type and so on. Sometimes, psychological aspects may also step in for the donor before donating a kidney to someone.

The overall procedure also carries some risks like surgical complexities and potential kidney issues. However, the benefits are always expected to be more. Not only the recipient lives a healthy life but the donor undergoes the satisfaction of saving a life. They experience a sense of fulfilment and peace within themselves. 

Deceased kidney donation: When the option for having access to the living donors reduces or eliminates, the recipients look up to other sources like a deceased donor. The decision by the donor himself or herself or any family member is made before the donation. The procedure involves cautious removal of the kidneys from the donor and addition of the same to the recipient. Time is the most important part of the surgery. 

Kidney Transplant Complications

Just like any other major surgery, a kidney transplant is also a breakthrough procedure in saving lives. But it also carries its own complications:

1. Surgical complexities can occur instantly after the procedure. These complications can be bleeding, forming of blood clots, notable infection on the surgical site and similar issues. Damage may also be present in the nearby organs with advanced surgical techniques and experienced surgeons, surgical complications are rare now.
2. Despite various medications, the recipient’s body may recognize the invasion of a foreign body in the recipient's body and start an attack. This is called Hyperacute Rejection, which usually happens if adequate careful matching is not done. With good cross-matching techniques and experienced nephrologists Hyperacute Rejections are rare in our institute.
3. Inflammation might also be a type of kidney transplantation complication in the recipient’s body. They are more susceptible to different infections like pneumonia, urinary tract infections and viral diseases. Monitoring and managing the body at this time is extremely crucial. One minor ignorance can cause death or immense damage to the body in a short span of time.
4. Some of the long-term complications may also include the use of immunosuppressive drugs. Without these medications, the patient might find it difficult to survive. Moreover, it comes with its side effects like diabetes, thinning of bones or high blood pressure issues. So, prodent use of immunosuppressive drugs is very important.
5. A chronic kidney disease may also result after the procedure. This can lead to gradual dysfunction of the kidney and potential death.
6. Others have also claimed cardiovascular problems after the medical procedure.

But no matter what, positive outcomes have always been higher than negative ones. Several lives have been saved till now due to this game changer procedure.  In good institute, with good surgeon & good nephrologist, kidney transplant gives excellent long term outcomes.

Conclusion

Kidney transplant can be tough to deal with, just like the disease that leads to it. But once done, it becomes a new hope towards a healthier life and routine. In the journey towards the procedure, it is important to know the obstacles and the complications involved. This process may be difficult sometimes but life saving and improving for several individuals. Supported by timely medical check-ups and a healthy diet, the chances of negative outcomes decreases while survival gets stronger