What are the conditions that necessitate a kidney transplant?
A kidney transplant is one of the most common organ transplant surgeries performed today. In this surgery, kidneys that aren't working well are replaced by a kidney from a donor. Kidney transplants have been performed since the 1950s. This surgery is a lifesaving choice for thousands of patients with endstage kidney disease (kidney renal failure). If you have kidney failure and cannot have a transplant, dialysis can sustain life. Dialysis cleans the blood by removing waste products such as urea. Show What Happens When Kidneys Fail?Harmful waste builds up in the body, which leads to:
All of these can be harmful, even deadly, to the heart, brain and skeleton. How Do the Kidneys Work?The kidneys are fist-size organs that handle the body's fluid and chemical levels. They are found on both sides of the spine behind the liver, stomach, pancreas and bowels. Healthy kidneys clean waste from the blood and make urine. They keep elements in the blood (sodium, potassium and calcium) in balance. Kidneys also make hormones that control blood pressure and red blood cells. Diagram of the Male and Female Urinary TractsEnlargeSymptomsThere are many signs of kidney failure, such as:
CausesEach year about 115,000 people in the U.S. are found to have endstage kidney disease. In 3 out of 4 people who have endstage kidney disease, it is caused by:
Other risk factors are:
TreatmentDialysisThe most common treatment for endstage kidney disease is dialysis. Dialysis removes waste, extra water and chemicals (like potassium, sodium, calcium and acid) from the body. The 2 types of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, your bloodstream is joined to a kidney machine outside the body. Hemodialysis is most often done 3 times per week and each session takes about 4 hours. Peritoneal dialysis is done through a tube in the belly. Dialysis will not cure kidney failure. But dialysis can replace the work of the kidneys, and help you feel better and live longer. Diagram of Dialysis TreatmentEnlargeKidney TransplantAbout 30 out of 100 patients with kidney failure can have a kidney transplant. This surgery returns kidney function by replacing 2 failed kidneys with 1 healthy organ. About two-thirds of kidney transplants come from nonliving (deceased) donors. But family members, spouses (living, related donors) and friends (living, unrelated donors) can donate safely if tests show that the donor will have nearly normal kidney function after giving up 1 kidney. A kidney transplant is most often placed in the lower belly without removing the failed kidneys. The artery and vein of the new kidney are joined to an artery and a vein in the pelvis next to your bladder. The ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder) attached to the new kidney is joined to your bladder or to one of your ureters. In a child, the blood vessels from a large adult kidney transplant are often joined to the child's aorta (the largest artery in the body) and inferior vena cava (the largest vein in the belly). What to ExpectIf You are the Donor:
If You are Receiving the Donor Kidney:
ResultsNine out of 10 transplanted kidneys work well at the end of 1 year. About 4 out of 100 kidney transplants stop working each year after that. The kidney is always at risk for rejection, so it is vital to take all of your drugs as you are told by your health care provider. A kidney from a living donor has a better chance of lasting than one from a nonliving donor. The chance that kidney disease will come back in the transplant depends on the original cause of kidney failure.
Frequently Asked QuestionsI'd like to donate one of my kidneys to my brother but our blood types are not the same. Does it matter?No. Blood types do not have to be the same, just compatible. Markers or "antigens" on the surfaces of red blood cells decide blood type. If the donor and patient do not have compatible blood types, the kidney can be rejected right away.
Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system that react to donor tissue. To prove that a donor's kidney is okay to use, blood samples from the donor and patient are mixed. If there is no reaction (negative cross-match), the donor's kidney is safe to use. How long will I have to wait for a kidney transplant if I do not have a living donor?When an organ becomes available, a patient is chosen using a nationwide point system. This system is based on blood type, waiting time, tissue match and antibody levels. Children are given extra points. While some people get a kidney within a few months, the average patient waits about 4 years. In contrast, a living donor kidney transplant can be scheduled as soon as the donor and patient are ready. This makes a living donor transplant an excellent choice. My father had autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. What is the chance that I will have the same disease?The chance that you inherited this disease is about 50%. This disease results in a buildup of benign cysts that wipe out the normal tissue in both kidneys. Signs like abdominal swelling, pain, bloody urine and frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) may show up at any time, but they often start in middle age. High blood pressure and renal failure may result as the disease progresses. There is no way to preserve kidney function in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. But dialysis or a kidney transplant can be used to treat the kidney failure. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease should not be confused with multiple simple cysts of the kidneys. These simple cysts are often the result of age and don't cause kidney failure. Explore FurtherCOVID-19 Info CenterInformation and resources to help you stay up-to-date. Urology Health extraRead the latest issue of Urology Health extra, the Urology Care Foundation's patient-focused magazine. What are the 2 common causes for a kidney transplant?The most common reason for a kidney transplant is end stage kidney disease or kidney failure.. those with a widespread cancer,. those with an active infection,. those with liver or heart disease,. those with AIDS.. What determines if a person is a candidate for a kidney transplant?Who Is a Kidney Transplant Candidate? You may be a candidate for a kidney transplant if your physician* has diagnosed you with kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease. This means your kidneys can no longer filter your blood properly. You may already be on dialysis.
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