Criteria for kidney transplant eligibility – For donor and recipient

Kidney transplantation is the process of organ transplant of the kidney into a patient who has reached an end-stage renal disease. If one has a kidney which is failed completely the only solution for him to lead a normal life without doing any dialysis is to do kidney transplantation. Before doing the transplantation there are criteria for kidney transplant eligibility, which both donor and recipient should satisfy each other.

In this article, you could find a description on criteria for kidney transplant eligibility, things to be taken care before kidney transplantation surgery and statistics of increase in the kidney disease compared to the previous years.

Criteria for kidney transplant eligibility

Kidney transplantation can be done from a healthy person who’s blood group is same as the blood group of patient. After kidney transplantation, the body of a patient will always try to reject the transplanted kidney. There are Anti-rejection medications to avoid this situation. The patient will have to consume these supporting medicines lifelong.

Nevertheless, with the advancement of new bio-medical technology and medicines, tremendous changes in the kidney transplantation segment are seen. Now it is possible for a ‘second life’ easily using these facilities. And in case the transplanted heart failed on the way, there is an opportunity to replace the kidney once again.

• Also read how do you know if you have kidney failure?

Any healthy person of the age 18 – 65 can donate their kidney to their nearest blood relatives. Apart from that, they could also give their kidney to any others outside blood relation with the direction of government assigned communities. The donor can leave the hospital within 3-4 days of transplantation. And won’t have to take any medicines thereafter. After a weeks rest, the donor could revert back to normal life. He can do the same daily routines he used to do before the surgery.

• Also read about What causes kidney disease and Kidney dialysis options

If the donor doesn’t satisfy the criteria for kidney transplant eligibility, the patient should then look for alternate options like continue dialysis as per the directions of the nephrologist or wait for another donor.

Before the surgery

Before the surgery, medicine is given to the patients to make their body and mind prepared for the surgery. A general anesthetic is then given. The donor and recipient will be in adjacent rooms.
Initially, donor will be subjected to surgery. The transplant surgeon removes the kidney from the donor. And prepares it for transplantation to the recipient’s body.

In the recipient’s body, the surgeon connects the renal artery and vein of the new kidney to the recipient’s artery and vein. This creates blood flow through the kidney, which makes urine. The ureter, or tube coming down from the donor’s kidney, is stitched into the bladder. Normally, the new kidney should start working immediately. Even there are cases when it takes several days for the donor kidney to start functioning. It varies from patient to patient.

Recent studies show kidney disease are increasing in proportion

Statistics show that we are living in a world where the number of kidney patients is increased when compared to previous years. We shouldn’t forget the fact that out of every 100 adults 10 have the possibilities of having silent kidney disease. Some of the ways by which we could prevent kidney disease are a healthy diet, reduce the usage of salt, drink enough water, daily exercise, limiting excess eating, consumption of alcohol, avoid mental pressure etc.