KIDNEY KNOWLEDGE SERIES - (7)

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT (Contd)

Q:     What are the risks of having a kidney transplant?

A:     The risks and possible complications of transplant are similar to those associated with any surgical procedure plus other unique problems perculiar to transplantation. Some of the possible  complications include ;

·        Infection

·        Side effects of antirejection drugs

·        Acute rejection

·        Lymphocoele ( collection of lymphatic  fluid near the new kidney )

·        Persistent hypertension

·        Post transplant diabetes

·        Post transplant cancer

These conditions can be identified by appropriate investigations and treated accordingly.

                                 

Q:     Do I need to find my own donor?

A:     Yes. Patients are encouraged to look for potential donors from among family usually first degree. If this is not possible, then friends can be considered but the donation must be altruistically motivated.

Q:     Does my donor have to be a blood relative?

A:    

No. A living kidney donor may be a relative or a person who is not related to the recipient. In the case of a non-relative, it is best if the donor has an emotional relationship with the recipient.

Q:     How long do I have to find a 'donor' kidney?

A:     There is no time limit to finding a kidney transplant donor.

Q:     How do you determine if someone's kidney will be a match?

A:     Donors and recipients are matched based on their blood type and whether the recipient has antibodies that would react with and damage the donor's kidney.

Q:     What Does "Tissue Typing" Mean?

A:     For your new kidney to work properly, you and the donor's kidney must be "compatible." To determine compatibility, three tests are done:

·        ABO (blood type) Compatibility

·        Crossmatch Compatibility

·        Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) Tissue Typing

Q:     What Happens During the Transplant Evaluation?

A:    

·        The transplant evaluation consists of a review of your medical records and a complete physical by the transplant team.

·        You will have a chest X-ray and ECG.

·        Blood work will be drawn for routine studies and infectious disease testing.

·        You will be given information concerning the transplant process, and have an opportunity to ask questions.

·        You are encouraged to learn as much as possible about transplantation before making a decision about having a kidney transplant.

·        The members of the transplant team will explain the benefits and risks of transplantation.

·        After your evaluation, members of the transplant team will meet to review your case.

·        They will decide as a group if further testing is necessary before any decision regarding transplantation can be reached.

Q:     How much does a transplant cost?

A:     Again, this will vary from person to person but on average it costs between three million and five million Naira (N3, 000, 000 – N5, 000,000) in Nigeria

Q:     Can I live normally with only one kidney?

A:     Yes. Some people can be born with only one kidney and live a normal life.

Q:     Is there anything I can do to better prepare my body for a kidney transplant?

A:     To prepare yourself for a kidney transplant, you should try and be in the best possible general health. This includes an ideal body weight, watching your diet and exercising if possible.

Q:     How long will the recipient be in the hospital?

A:      The average hospital stay for transplant recipients is about two weeks. However, this can vary considerably from 10 days to three weeks, depending on many factors.