A Living Donor Kidney Transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a living person (donor) is transplanted into a patient (recipient) whose kidney has failed or are not functioning properly. In this procedure, the donor is usually a family member, relative, or friend who voluntarily donates one of their healthy kidneys to the patient. Since humans can live a normal life with one functioning kidney, donating one kidney does not significantly affect the donor’s overall health. This type of transplant is often preferred because it has a higher success rate, faster recovery time, and better kidney function compared to receiving a kidney from a deceased donor.

Types of Living Kidney Donors

Living kidney donors can be categorized based on blood type compatibility and donation arrangements:-

• ABO-Compatible Donors - Donors whose blood type matches the recipient's, allowing direct transplantation without additional interventions.
• Kidney Transplantation in HIV Patients - Donors with a different blood type from the recipient. Transplants are possible through specialized medical treatments to reduce antibody levels and minimize rejection risk.
• Swap (Paired Exchange) Donors - When a donor and recipient are incompatible, they can pair with another incompatible donor-recipient duo to exchange kidneys, ensuring both recipients receive compatible organs.

In India individual donors donate one of their kidneys to a needy patient via:-

Directed Donation

• Biologically Related Donors - Such as parents, siblings, or other blood relatives.

Indirect Donation

• Emotionally Related Donors - Including spouses, or friends/in-laws whose blood match (Only after getting permission from transplant authority).

Swap Kidney Transplant

• Those whose blood does not match may also go for a swap kidney donation as they are two incompatible donor-recipient pairs. (With permission of transplant authority)

How to Find a Living Kidney Donor?

Choose a Potential Donor

• Blood relation: Close relatives such as parents, siblings, or children are often the first to consider, as they may offer better compatibility.
• Spouses: Spousal donations are common and have shown outcomes comparable to related donors.
• Friends & Extended Family: Individuals with an emotional bond to the recipient can also be suitable donors but they are needed to obtain permission from transplant authority.
• Swap Kidney Transplant (Paired Kidney Exchange): Two Incompatible Donor-Recipient Pairs pave the way after the permission of Transplant Authority.

Through a Paired Kidney Exchange Program:

• For cases where a donor is incompatible with their intended recipient, India has established Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) programs. These programs facilitate donor-recipient pair exchanges to find compatible matches, increasing the chances of successful transplants.

Who can be Living- Kidney Donor

A living kidney donor is a healthy individual who voluntarily donates one of their kidneys to a person in need of a transplant. Living donation offers better outcomes and a shorter waiting time compared to deceased donor transplants.

• Donors must be between 18 and 65 years of age.
• Donor and recipient (patient) complete detailed medical checkups including blood tests, tissue typing, and compatibility
• Source donor must be in a perfect state of health and pass a careful medical and psychic checkup.
• Donor must be willing for the operation.
• Donating must be voluntary, without any monetary considerations or forced donation.
• Donor and recipient follow legal guidelines of India, furnishing proof of their relationship.
• The case is scrutinized by the doctors/medical-authority to ensure the donation is going to be entirely voluntary and not influenced by coercion or any kind of financial arrangement.
• Legal documentation proving the relationship between the donor and patient (recipient) is verified.

Advantages

• Shorter Waiting Time - The transplant actually can be planned as soon as enough time has passed after the donor and recipient have achieved satisfactory medical clearance, so that there is no waiting in what could be seen as a long period of medical limbo.
• Better Compatibility - Living donors are typically intimate relatives so that better matching on the genetic level and consequently better outcomes are achieved.
• Higher Success Rates - Living-donor transplants generally show a better outcome than deceased-donor transplants in terms of transplant success and graft survival.
• Convenient Timing - It is possible to schedule the surgery in a way which is suitable for both donor and recipient.
• High Survival Rates - The survival rate of the recipients of living-donor kidneys is greater compared to patients receiving transplantation from a deceased donor. This is due to shorter waiting times and the optimal ability to plan the transplant.
• Healthy Kidney Function - Kidneys from living donors usually begin to function immediately after the transplant surgery, resulting in greater health gains as well as improved quality of life for the recipients.

Although living-donor kidney transplantations provide many advantages, it is critical to recognize and know the risks involved for both donors and recipients.

Disadvantages

As per records there is a high success rate as no major disadvantages have been reported to donor or recipient except:-

• Infection
• Bleeding,
• Minor complications from anesthesia may occur.

Risk Factors

To Living Donor -

• Operative Complications - Like any major surgical procedure, kidney donation is at risk of complications including bleeding, infection, blood clots, and reaction to the anesthesia.
• Psychosocial Consideration - Some donors may feel emotional distress following donation, such as anxiety or depression, should complications occur, or if there is an unfavorable outcome for the recipient's health.

To Recipient -

• Surgical Complications - Recipients are at risk of usual surgical complications, such as infection, bleeding, or reactions to anesthesia.
• Organ Rejection - Even if the donor and recipient are genetically compatible, there is always a risk that the recipient's immune system will reject the transplanted kidney.
• Medication Side Effects - Recipients after transplantation need to be on immunosuppressive medications to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ, which causes side effects such as increased susceptibility to infection, high blood pressure, and other complications.

Living Donor Kidney Transplantation Procedure

A kidney transplant is a complex medical procedure that involves replacing a diseased or non-functioning kidney with a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor. Below is a step-by-step guide to the kidney transplant process.

• Comprehensive Medical Test - Both donor and recipient undergo intensive medical tests to test compatibility as well as for general health. These include tests on blood, imaging examinations, and organ functions.
• Psychosocial Assessment - A mental health professional will assess the donor's mental status to ensure that he or she is willingly and knowingly providing consent without force.
• Surgery - Donor surgery is performed laparoscopically, through cuts to excise the kidney and place it surgically in the lower abdomen of the patient (recipient), connecting to corresponding vessels and bladder.
• Adequate Rest for Recovery - The donors are recovered from surgery with approximately two days' stay in the hospital to resume normal living in four to six weeks depending on the intensity of their daily physical living and working, while the recipient may be kept in the hospital for a few additional days. They may require immunosuppressive drugs following the transplant to avoid rejection of the transplanted organs and the occasional follow-up test to monitor kidney function.

Long-Term Benefits

For Donors

• In most instances, a lone kidney will never affect life span or lifestyle. Donors will need to go back to regular routine and check-up to support their own wellbeing.
• Life Expectancy - That kidney donation has no adverse effect on the donor's life as Kidney donors tend to live longer than the people, perhaps because only healthy individuals are chosen to donate a kidney.
• Post-Surgery Recovery - Donors usually recover after surgery within four to six weeks, encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle and undergo normal medical check-ups to keep an eye on their health.

For Recipients

• The living-donor kidney transplant may function perfectly with careful management for many decades and significantly improve the quality of life of the recipient compared to being on dialysis.
• Survival Rates - The survival rate of the recipients of living-donor kidneys is greater compared to patients receiving transplantation from a deceased donor. This is due to shorter waiting times and the optimal ability to plan the transplant.
• Kidney Function - Kidneys from living donors usually begin to function immediately after the transplant surgery, resulting in greater health gains as well as improved quality of life for the recipients.

Why Choose Tender Palm Hospital for Kidney Transplant?

At Tender Palm Super Specialty Hospital, we recognize how life-altering the process of kidney transplant is in a patient's and his/her family's life. To achieve that, we take every effort to provide the finest treatment from around the world at every step of transplantation. Some of the key points for why we are the best kidney transplant hospital are provided below:-

Experienced Transplant Team

Our transplant program is directed by experienced transplant surgeons, nephrologists, anesthetists, and dedicated support staff. Our specialists have a long history of experience in kidney transplantation and offer precision, safety, and best results for every patient.

State-of-the-Art Technology Facilities

Tender Palm Hospital is well-facilitated with advanced amenities particularly suitable for kidney transplant operations. From state-of-the-art modular operating rooms with better facilities and advanced imaging tools to private room transplant ICUs, we possess the facility that delivers utmost care and safeguarding.

Complete Kidney Transplant Facilities

We offer complete kidney transplant operations including:-

• Living donor and deceased donor transplant
• ABO-incompatible transplant
• Paired kidney exchange program
• Kidney transplantation in children

Every patient is provided with a customized treatment schedule to address their medical needs.

Highest Quality Safety Standards

Patient safety and well-being are our top priorities. We adhere to international standards and practices, offering an unbroken experience from donor screening to post-transplant recovery. We use multidisciplinary experts with ongoing monitoring and long-term follow-up for optimal transplant results.

Compassionate Holistic Patient Care

Apart from medical dominance, we comprehend the psychological and emotional problem in kidney transplantation as well. We offer emotional support, pre- and post-transplant counseling, and patient and family counseling to lead to easy and hassle-free operations.

To seek an expert consultation

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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