Deceased donor kidney transplant
This is a type of treatment that is undertaken by a person whose kidneys have failed. The transplant involves taking a healthy kidney from a person who has died and transplanting it into a patient with end-stage kidneys. The transplant is considered if the patient does not have a living kidney donor.
What Is a Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant?
A kidney transplant from a deceased donor is obtained from a registry of organ donors or from a family that has given consent for donation. The donor kidney can also be maintained alive using a special machine prior to transplant. Because a single person has two kidneys and a single kidney is enough for a lifetime, a single donor kidney can be harvested for two individuals.
Who Can Get a Kidney Transplant From a Deceased Donor
Kidney or renal failure patients can apply. Most of the patients are those undergoing dialysis or approaching the end-stages of requiring dialysis. Some of the reasons for kidney/renal failure may include diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.
How the Process Works
1. Evaluation
A doctor refers the patient to a transplant unit, where various tests are conducted to screen for general health, blood type, and organ compatibility.
2. Waiting List:
If accepted, they will go on to the national waiting list of deceased donors. Renal matching is done using blood type, tissue match, wait time, and distance from the donor hospital.
3. Transplant Call
When an appropriate kidney is found, the transplant center calls the patient and asks them to come to the hospital immediately.
4. Surgery and Recovery
During the operation, the donor kidney is placed inside the lower abdomen and attached to the vessels and bladder. The patient needs to stay in the hospital for 5 to 7 days.
5. Life After Transplant
Once the transplant is complete, patients can stop dialysis. To prevent rejection, patients need to have lifelong doses of immunosuppressive drugs.
Conclusion:
A kidney transplant using the kidney of a deceased donor can greatly improve the quality of life and survival rate in patients with kidney failure. Despite the possibility of long waiting times, early assessment and proper management can improve one’s chances of having successful kidney transplantation.