What Causes End-Stage Kidney Failure?
When these vital organs fail by more than 90%, it is termed s end-stage kidney failure. The most common reasons include the following:
- Uncontrolled Diabetes
- Uncontrolled Hypertension
- Glomerulonephritis — inflammation, and scarring of the filters within the kidneys
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
Patients suffering from kidney disease should undergo regular dialysis to flush out wastes and toxins from the bloodstream or opt for a kidney transplant to live a healthy life.
How Is Kidney Transplant Done?
A kidney transplant is done by surgically removing the healthy Kidney from a donor and transplanting it into the patient's body. There are two types of Kidney donation:
Living Donor:
A living donor kidney transplant is done by removing the healthy Kidney from the healthy donor and surgically placing it in the patient suffering from kidney failure. Living donors are often immediate family members like parents, siblings, and children.
Deceased Donor:
A deceased donor is someone who passed away recently (brain stem dead), and the vital organs are still healthy. If the deceased person's family agrees to donate organs or if the deceased had already registered as a potential organ donor, the Kidney and other body parts will be removed for transplant.
The Kidney is then transplanted into the body of the patient.
How Is Kidney Transplant Done?
A kidney transplant is done under general anaesthesia.
During the procedure, incisions are made in the lower part by the side of the abdomen and the healthy kidney is placed into the body.
The blood vessels of the new Kidney are then attached to the blood vessels located in the lower part of the abdomen.
The ureter, the linking Kidney to the bladder, relates to the urinary bladder.
The incisions are then closed, and the patient will be shifted to ICU or transplant care unit to monitor the functioning of the new Kidney and to reduce the chances of rejection.
The Kidney from a living donor starts functioning almost immediately, but the organ from a deceased donor may take up to a few days to start working.