Kidney Failure and Transplantation
In a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is surgically implanted into a patient whose kidneys are no longer functioning correctly. Kidney failure results from hazardous levels of fluid and waste accumulating in the body when the kidneys lose their filtering capacity. This raises blood pressure (end-stage renal disease). The end-stage renal disease develops when the kidneys are around 90% functionally impaired. The end-stage renal disease develops when the kidneys are around 90% functionally impaired.
Causes Of Kidney Failure
- Diabetes is characterised by uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Chronic glomerulonephritis is an inflammation and eventual scarring of the kidney's tiny filters.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Symptoms Of Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure can cause the following signs and symptoms:
- Urine output is reduced
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet due to fluid retention
- Breathing difficulty
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Heartbeat irregularity
- Pain or pressure in the chest
- In severe cases, seizures or coma may occur.
Kidney Transplantation
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure that involves implanting a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys are no longer functioning properly. When the kidneys lose their ability to filter, harmful levels of fluid and waste accumulate in the body, raising blood pressure and leading to kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost approximately 90% of their normal function. End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys have lost approximately 90% of their normal function.
Why Is A Kidney Transplant Advisable?
A kidney transplant is recommended for people who have severe kidney disease and cannot live without dialysis or a transplant. The following are some of the kidney diseases for which transplants are performed. However, kidney transplantation is not required in all cases of the following diseases. For a diagnosis, always consult your doctor.
Types Of Kidney Transplant
If you want to seek kidney transplantation as a treatment option, there are three types to consider. Your transplant team will work with you to determine which option is best for you.
Deceased donor
An individual from whom at least one solid organ is recovered for transplantation after brain or cardiac death.
Expanded criteria donor (ECD)
An ECD is a deceased donor who is over the age of 60. Candidates over the age of 60 or those with a history of diabetes over the age of 50 may be recommended for an ECD kidney. The wait for an ECD kidney could be shorter.
Living donor
A living donor is someone who donates an organ for transplant. Living donors can be blood relatives or people who have an emotional connection to the transplant candidate. Finding a living donor match significantly reduces your waiting time, improves long-term transplant kidney and patient survival, and allows you to choose your surgery date.
