Kidney Transplant Health Feed

ABO Incompatible Kidney Transplant is a kind of transplant taking place between the donor, whose blood type is not compatible with that of the patient, who is in need of the kidney. The only option was to get the transplant pairs of the recipient donor identified with the types of ABO blood that were compatible.

Present Scenario
In the current situation, this ABO incompatible kidney transplant is possible to get conducted between certain recipients and living donors. When there is only one available donor there are options available for the patient:

1. To get placed for Organ Sharing cadaveric-donor kidney waiting list.
2. To enter into a paired donor exchange program
3. Let us take a closer look at these options:
4. The UNOS Cadaveric-Donor Kidney Waiting List
5. Getting the candidate placed on the UNOS cadaveric-donor waiting list seems to be quite simple and straightforward but it is actually quite troublesome for those candidates, with blood group O or B.
6. The time for which a candidate needs to wait is on the rise for all blood groups but it is more so for those having O or B. The number of new registrations which gets added to the list is also increasing
7. Longer waiting time for kidney transplant means increased exposure to risk of leading to death. The average yearly rate of death for waiting list patients is more than 6%.

Donor kidney exchange

• Second option available is to get into one of the donor exchange programs that have come to light over the last few years.
• When a living pair of donor and recipient is found to be ABO-incompatible, then it is possible to achieve two ABO-compatible transplants by means of a direct exchange with another pair.
• Another type can occur when one pair of donor-recipient is incompatible and the other one is compatible but not identical. Getting these donors swapped result in two ABO-compatible living-donor kidney transplants.

Kidney problems are growing at an alarming rate in India with more than 200,000 kidney failures being reported annually. It becomes very important to take care of your kidneys, as the improper functioning of kidneys can lead to serious health problems or even death.

Regular health check-ups especially if you have kind of metabolic disorders becomes very important as metabolic disorders increase your risk of kidney disorder and failure. Treatment for kidney disorders especially kidney failures can be very expensive.

Here is the list of top kidney hospitals in India.

1. S L Raheja Fortis Hospital, Mahim West, Mumbai

S.L.Raheja Hospital at Mahim is a well-established name in healthcare and medical world. The center has the best doctors and well-equipped infrastructure to provide all kind of solution to healthcare problems. It is also known for nephrology  & urology service. They have the latest labs and advanced technologies that offer best diagnosis and treatments.

Consultation fees: ₹500 - ₹3000

2. Fortis Hospital, Mulund West, Mumbai

Fortis Hospital is a 300 bedded multispeciality hospital that offers a wide variety of OPD as well as IPD services. The center is well equipped with the latest healthcare technologies to deal with the diagnosis and treatment of all conditions affecting the kidneys & urology. They are also known for some of the best doctors on board.

Consultation fees: ₹800 - ₹1500

3. Medanta Mediclinic Defence Colony, New Delhi

Medenta clinics are known for world-class technology and specialised team of doctors.  They are known for their treatment to ensure that the health of patients' kidney improves and to delay deterioration. They are also known for the best in the class dialysis center and surgical treatments in case the situation gets worse.

Consultation fees: ₹800- ₹2000

4. Narayana Hospital, DLF phase 3, Gurgaon

Dr. Sudeep Singh Sachdev is associated with Narayana hospital. He is one of the famous nephrologists in Gurugram. With years of experience in treating various types of kidney and urinary disorders. He specialises in urinary tract infections, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantations. He firmly believes that the devotion and care by a doctor can bring healing, comfort and most importantly hope in the lives of his patients.

Consultation fees: ₹1000

5. Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, Chinchwad, Pune

Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital is a multi speciality hospital with a dedicated division of nephrology and renal transplant to deal with any kind of kidney disorders or failures. They provide comprehensive services with IPD, OPD and daycare facility for a dialysis patient. The department and team is well equipped and experienced to perform any kind of surgery or transplant. They have a good success rate in kidney transplant.

Consultation fees: ₹1000

6. Apollo Hospital, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi

Dr. Ashok Sarin, who is associated with Apollo Hospital,  and he has more than 46 years of experience. He has completed his fellowship from the UK. He is associated with many reputed medical societies and has won many prestigious awards in his field. He specialises in urinary tract infections, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantations.

Consultation fees: ₹1200

7. Max Multi Speciality Centre, Pitampura, New Delhi

Dr. Yogesh Kumar Chhabra is one of the best Nephrologists in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi. With more than 13 years of experience.  He is associated with Max hospital and is known for success rate in kidney transplant and dialysis.

Consultation fees: ₹600

8. Noble Medicare, Janakpuri, New Delhi

Dr. Sanjiv Saxena is a very renowned and successful Nephrology/Renal specialist with years of experience. He is associated with many clinics & hospitals like PSRI and Noble Medicare. He holds an expertise in kidney dialysis treatment, kidney transplant treatment and planning, kidney stones treatment, lithotripsy process and many more. Years of experience and with the kind of knowledge and information he is well known for his right diagnosis and treatment at the right time.

Consultation fees: ₹1000

9. Moolchand Hospital, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi

Dr. Ramesh Hotchandani holds an experience of more than 37 years in nephro practice. He is associated with clinics like Hots Medicare & hospital like Moolchand hospital.

Consultation fees:  ₹1000

Kidney transplant is a tricky thing, there are a lot of parameters involved, matching blood groups and many such issues come into play. It’s not easy and even if you do get a donor, there is the matter of the whole surgery being successful. Yet a kidney transplant if successful is a great feeling and a lot better than being on dialysis. The number of restrictions and precautionary measures is much lower for one thing, and you can go back to an almost normal lifestyle.

There are a few measures you must acknowledge but those are just short-term steps and will help you to recover from a kidney transplant. So here are some handy tips to keep in mind post a successful kidney transplant:

1. Medication: There are a series of medical instructions that you need to follow, and religiously adhere to them. Usually, immunosuppressant is prescribed which helps prevent organ rejection, but that too comes with its own set of side-effects. Medicine dosages are readjusted to find the perfect balance and you need to keep your health care professionals updated about every little change or discomfort you feel after you take your medication. You also have to keep in mind the time of the day you need to take them, so best set an alarm for each time.
2. Protect yourself: Immunosuppressants while helping your body accept the new kidney, lower your immunity so that your body doesn’t resist the change and tag the transplanted kidney as a foreign object. This, in turn, makes you highly susceptible to infections and that is dangerous for your new kidney. Inform your caregiver if you find wounds on your skin that are not healing, go for all your vaccine appointments and wash your hands with antimicrobial gels and hand wash. Avoid coming in contact with anyone with a contagious disease.
3. Diet overhaul: Your diet is integral in helping you on your path to recovery. After a successful transplant you don’t have to make too many changes to your normal diet but at the same time not go overboard. You have to avoid the intake of undercooked or raw food items as your immune system is currently not at its full strength. Increase protein intake but the trick is to not overdo it, so consult a dietician for the recommended quantity. It is generally advised to stay away from grapefruits and its constituents as your immunosuppressants will react badly to them.
4. Hydration: You need to drink a lot of water to keep yourself constantly hydrated, to help your kidney transplant. Do not try other substitutes for water like carbonated water or fruit juices. Drink two litres of water daily and avoid caffeine as it causes dehydration.

A kidney transplant provides a new lease on life. Do not squander it and take all the necessary measures to protect yourself and enjoy a healthy life. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Kidney transplant surgery is a surgical procedure where a healthy kidney is used to substitute a diseased one. The healthy kidney is obtained from either a deceased donor or a family member who has a good blood type match with the recipient. Usually, the recipient receives one kidney if the donor is alive and/or both the kidneys from a deceased donor.

Certain reasons for going for a kidney transplant surgery might include:
1. Kidney failure due to diabetes
2. Infections in the urinary tract
3. Autoimmune disorders such as lupus (an autoimmune disorder)
4. Polycystic kidney disorders
5. Obstructions in the kidney
6. Glomerulonephritis, where inflammation occurs in the kidney

Preparation for the surgery
Before the procedure, certain tests are carried out to determine your suitability for the procedure. The tests start with a psychological evaluation followed by blood tests and diagnostic tests to check for health problems. Once the tests are done, you will be placed on the waiting list for kidney recipients. Once the donor is available, you will be asked to get ready for the surgery.

Procedure: The procedure begins with you being administered general anesthesia. An incision is made in the lower part of the stomach, through which the donated kidney is inserted in the body. The next step involves attaching adjacent blood vessels to the kidney so that it has a proper supply of blood. Finally, the ureter of the kidney is linked with the bladder, facilitating normal disposal of bodily wastes. A plastic tube, known as a stent, is placed in the ureter to facilitate urine flow. This is later removed by a procedure called cystoscopy. Once the surgery is completed, the incision is closed by stitches.

Aftercare: After the procedure is completed, you will be given painkillers to ease the pain. Immunosuppressant medications will be prescribed to prevent your immune system from destroying the cells of the donated kidney. Usually, the duration of stay at the hospital post-surgery is about a week.

Kidney transplant surgery is a surgical procedure where a healthy kidney is used to substitute a diseased one. The healthy kidney is obtained from either a deceased donor or a family member who has a good blood type match with the recipient. Usually, the recipient receives one kidney if the donor is alive and/or both the kidneys from a deceased donor.

Certain reasons for going for a kidney transplant surgery might include:
1. Kidney failure due to diabetes
2. Infections in the urinary tract
3. Autoimmune disorders such as lupus (an autoimmune disorder)
4. Polycystic kidney disorders
5. Obstructions in the kidney
6. Glomerulonephritis, where inflammation occurs in the kidney

Preparation for the surgery
Before the procedure, certain tests are carried out to determine your suitability for the procedure. The tests start with a psychological evaluation followed by blood tests and diagnostic tests to check for health problems. Once the tests are done, you will be placed on the waiting list for kidney recipients. Once the donor is available, you will be asked to get ready for the surgery.

Procedure: The procedure begins with you being administered general anesthesia. An incision is made in the lower part of the stomach, through which the donated kidney is inserted in the body. The next step involves attaching adjacent blood vessels to the kidney so that it has a proper supply of blood. Finally, the ureter of the kidney is linked with the bladder, facilitating normal disposal of bodily wastes. A plastic tube, known as a stent, is placed in the ureter to facilitate urine flow. This is later removed by a procedure called cystoscopy. Once the surgery is completed, the incision is closed by stitches.

Aftercare: After the procedure is completed, you will be given painkillers to ease the pain. Immunosuppressant medications will be prescribed to prevent your immune system from destroying the cells of the donated kidney. Usually, the duration of stay at the hospital post-surgery is about a week. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Kidney failure is an acute health problem, which leads to either treatment through transplanting a new healthy kidney. Still less than 10% of those, who suffer from kidney failure, undergo a kidney transplant with the help of a family donor and around 1% of the patients do so with the kidney of a deceased donor. The remaining candidates, who need to undergo treatment for kidney failure, go for dialysis as they cannot find a family donor or any deceased donor.

There are even hurdles faced by kidney failure patients, wherein they are unable to go ahead with the treatment as the blood group of the prospective donor does not match with the patient. This is when Swap Kidney Transplant becomes an ideal for them.

What Is Swap Kidney Transplant?
Swap Kidney Transplant or Kidney Exchange is simply a barter system, where a give and take policy takes place between two pairs of people.

Some important points include:

1. Each pair consists of a giver and a taker and both the pairs benefit by receiving an organ that gets matched completely.
2. This barter framework gives the opportunity to maximise returns in an exponential manner where there is a large pool and complicated algorithms in order to get the kidneys exchanged, are built into it.
3. Swap pair consists of a patient, who is the receiver and a donor, who can be a family member.
4. These kinds of pairs are such that organs cannot get exchanged between one another in an ordinary manner, due to incompatibility of blood groups or tissues.

How does the treatment actually takes place?
Swap Kidney Transplant is a process where exchange of organs takes place between two families, who are not able to donate the organ to their own family member as there is a blood group mismatch. Hence, this method involves sharing of organs between pair of donor and recipient who are not related. By doing a swap, where the two patients could not have undergone kidney transplant because of blood group mismatch, they can now easily go ahead with their kidney transplantation. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!