Kidney Transplant Surgery

When the kidneys lose its ability to function properly, the condition is term as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Under such condition the patient has to undergo some form of renal replacement therapy. One such modality is called hemodialysis which is the mechanical process to clean the blood of waste products in our body. Peritoneal dialysis is the other option in which toxins are removed by passing chemical solutions through the abdomen.

However, both the options are not the permanent option to cure kidney failure. Kidney transplant provide an appropriate solution for such patient.

Some of the conditions that may cause ESRD comprise:

High blood pressure or diabetes may cause kidney failure
Polycystic kidney disease or other inherited disorder
Frequent urinary infections
Various types of Glomerulonephritis
Lupus and other immune system disease
Obstruction and congenital defects may also be the cause of renal failure
Other miscellaneous causes like stone disease, nephrectomy etc

Transplant Surgery

The process of kidney transplant surgery includes placing a healthy kidney into the patient. The kidney can be obtained from the living donor or deceased donor. The duration of the kidney transplant surgery may last from two to four hours. During the operation your own kidney is not removed however the donor kidney is placed in your pelvis rather than the usual kidney location in our body. The artery that carries blood to the kidney and the vein that removes blood from it are surgically connected or attached to two blood vessels in the pelvis. Subsequently, the ureter or tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder is transplanted with the help of an incision in the bladder.

Living donor

Any healthy person can donate kidney. In order to donate kidney the donor must possess good health. He must be duly informed about transplantation and ready to give informed consent. The donor may have chance of complication as it is with any major operation; however he enjoys the same life expectancy, general health and kidney function as any other normal person.

Cadaver donor

When the kidney is obtained from the deceased donor, it is called cadaver donor. However whether it is living donor or cadaver donor, all donors are carefully and duly screened to prevent any complication and disease transmission later on.