Where does your new kidney come from?
Kidneys for transplantation come from two sources: living donors and
deceased
(non-living) donors. Living donors are usually immediate family members or
sometimes spouses. Deceased donor kidneys usually come from people who have willed
their kidneys before their death by signing organ donor cards. Permission for
donation can also be given by the deceased person's family at the time of death.
All donors are carefully screened to make sure there is a suitable match and
to prevent any transmissible diseases or other complications.
What happens during the kidney transplant procedure?
Kidney transplantation involves placing a healthy kidney into the body where
it can perform all of the functions that a failing kidney cannot.
The new kidney is placed on the lower right or left side of your abdomen
where it is surgically connected to nearby blood vessels. Placing the kidney in
this position allows it to be easily connected to blood vessels and the bladder. The vein and artery of
your new kidney are attached to your vein and artery. The new kidney's ureter is
attached to your bladder to allow urine to pass out of your body.
What happens to my old kidneys?
In most cases, the diseased kidneys are not removed. There are three
conditions that might require your diseased kidneys to be removed:
- Repeated infection that could spread to the transplanted kidney
- Uncontrollable hypertension caused by your original kidneys
- Backup of urine into your kidneys (a condition called reflux)
What are the benefits of kidney transplantation?
A successful kidney transplant gives you increased strength, stamina, and
energy. After transplantation, you should be able to return to a more normal
lifestyle and have more control over your daily living. You can have a normal
diet and more normal fluid intake.
If you were dependent on dialysis before the transplant, you'll have more
freedom because you won't be bound to your dialysis schedules.
Anemia, a common problem with kidney failure, might be corrected after
transplantation. If you have hypertension (high blood pressure), you could be on
fewer blood pressure medications after transplantation.
What are the risks of kidney transplantation?
The risks of kidney transplantation are the same as those of any surgery.
There is the risk of bleeding, infection, or breathing problems. You also might
experience some side effects from the medications, and you could be more prone to
infections, since the medicine you will take after transplantation lowers your
body's ability to fight infection.
There is also the risk of rejection. Since the body recognizes the new kidney
as a foreign object, it will normally try to get rid of it or "reject"
it. However, you are given medicine to prevent rejection.
Because of years of experience, research, and improved medicines that
prevent rejection, kidney transplants are very successful with few complications
after transplantation.