Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : October 30, 2017 11:18 AM IST
I am a 30-year-old man. My cousin's son, who is just 1-year-old was diagnosed with kidney disease. Doctors have advised kidney transplant. I want to know what type of kidney transplant can he undergo. Can you describe in brief how is the procedure done? Please explain.
The query is answered by Dr Saumil Gaur, Consultant Pediatric & Transplant Nephrologist, Rainbow Children s Hospital, Bangalore.
There are two main types of transplant, living donor transplant and cadaver (dead) donor transplant. However, there is a third type that is also seen nowadays known as a domino-kidney transplant.
Living donor transplant, as the name suggests, a child gets a kidney from someone who is still alive. One healthy kidney can do the work of two failed kidneys. Hence, unlike other organs, a kidney can be received from a living donor. As per Human Organ Transplant Act, 1st-degree blood relatives like parents, grandparents or sibling more than 18 years can donate the kidneys. Unrelated kidney transplants are not considered usually except in circumstances when there is no available blood relative. Here's more on kidney transplant in kids 5 things you need to know.
Cadaver donor transplant happens when the donor is dead and his organ is used for transplantation. The patient might require waiting in this case. In this case, once a suitable kidney is found for transplantation, the child can be prepared and taken to the hospital for the procedure. In the hospital, a blood sample will be taken for an antibody cross-match test. This determines whether the child's immune system will accept the new kidney. If the test comes back negative, the kidney is acceptable and the transplant can begin.
The surgical procedure starts with a general anaesthesia to sleep throughout. The new kidney will be placed in the abdomen and the surgeon will attach the kidney's blood vessels to blood vessels in the lower body. The new kidney's ureter tubes (tubes that carry urine) will be connected to the bladder. The procedure usually takes 3 to 4 hours to complete and it will start working right after the surgery, or a few weeks. Here's everything you should know about kidney transplants.
After transplant surgery, acute monitoring is required to ensure there are no complications, such as bleeding or infection. Unfortunately, the immune system will recognize a new kidney as a foreign object and attempt to reject it. Lifelong anti-rejection medications could help the child to overcome the state and allow the graft to survive.
Advanced surgical techniques and immune suppressant medications, is contributing its best to keep the success rate of kidney transplantations in children to a higher extent. Mental support and proper care can help a child recover fast and get back to normal condition and school.
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