A kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney into a person with kidney failure.
Kidney transplants are one of the most common transplant operations Nowadays.
A donated kidney is needed to perform a kidney transplant.
The donated kidney may be from:
Living related donor -- related to the recipient, such as a parent, sibling, or child
Living unrelated donor -- such as a friend or spouse
Deceased donor -- a person who has recently died and who has no known chronic kidney disease
People with chronic kidney disease can receive lifesaving dialysis until a donated kidney becomes available. The healthy kidney is transported in cool salt water (saline) that preserves the organ for up to 48 hours. This gives the health care providers time to perform tests that match the donor's and recipient's blood and tissue before the operation
If you are donating a kidney, you will be placed under general anesthesia before surgery. This means you will be asleep and pain-free. The surgeon makes a cut in the side of your abdomen, removes the proper kidney, and then closes the wound. The procedure used to require a long surgical cut. However, today surgeons can use a short surgical cut (mini-nephrectomy) or laparoscopic techniques.
People receiving a kidney transplant are given general anesthesia before surgery. The surgeon makes a cut in the lower belly area and stitches the new kidney into place. The wound is then closed.
Why this is Done:
A kidney transplant may be recommended if you have kidney failure caused by:
Diabetes
Glomerulonephritis
Severe, uncontrollable high blood pressure
Certain infections
Other Kidney Related disorders
