Dr. Arghya Majumdar
Renal Transplant Physician in Kolkata, India
MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), Higher Specialty Training (Nephrology), UK,
Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician
MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), Higher Specialty Training (Nephrology), UK,
Consultant Nephrologist & Transplant Physician
A kidney transplant is a surgery to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on each side of the spine just below the rib cage.
A left donor kidney will be implanted on your right side; a right donor kidney will be implanted on your left side. This allows the ureter to be accessed easily for connection to your bladder. The renal artery and vein of the donor kidney will be sewn to the external iliac artery and vein.
Currently the majority of patients developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) whom are eligible for kidney transplantation are between 45 and 65 years of age [1, 2]. A kidney transplant has an expected half-life of 7–15 years [3–6].
Most living kidney donors are biological relatives, such as a parent, brother or sister with a close blood and tissue match that reduces the risk of rejection of the organ. Biologically unrelated people such as partners or close friends can also donate, if compatible.
The donated kidney is placed into your lower abdomen (belly), where it's easiest to connect it to your important blood vessels and bladder. You may be surprised to learn that your own kidneys generally aren't taken out when you get a transplant.
1. Blood clots and bleeding.
2. Leaking from or blockage of the tube that links the kidney to the bladder (ureter)
3. Infection.
4. Failure or rejection of the donated kidney.
5. An infection or cancer that can be passed on from the donated kidney.
The right kidney is commonly slightly bigger than the left, but some people are born with a larger left kidney than right. The kidneys are generally close to each other in size with the size difference generally less than one centimeter in length.
You may spend up to a week in the hospital healing. You'll likely need temporary dialysis while your kidneys start functioning. You will need to come to the post-transplant clinic for routine follow up care as directed by your transplant team. You'll take anti-rejection medicine for the rest of your life.
In order to be eligible to receive a kidney transplant: You must have chronic irreversible kidney disease that has not responded to other medical or surgical treatments. You are either on dialysis or may require dialysis in the near future. You must qualify for and be able to tolerate major surgery.
