Kidney Transplantation in Bangalore

Kidney Transplantation is the best form of kidney replacement therapy. Patients with ESRD live healthier and longer lives after a kidney transplant than if they remain on dialysis.

Kidneys may be transplanted from either a living donor or a deceased donor.

Living Donor Kidney Transplant

Average Life span of a Living Donor Kidney in the recipient is ~15 years
Donor is usually a family member or friend well-known to the patient
Any monetary exchange between the kidney recipient and the donor is illegal
The donor will need to a complete evaluation to ensure he/she is fit enough to donate
The donor should not have Diabetes, and should preferably be a blood group match with the recipient

Note: if there is no blood group-matched donor, a blood group mis-matched donor can donate. A transplant can still be done with excellent outcomes.

Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant

Average Life span of a Deceased Donor Kidney in the recipient is ~12 years
Donor is a patient who has been declared brain-dead but with good kidney function and who’s family is willing to allow organs to be removed for donation
The Recipient will need to register with the state government for a deceased donor kidney. Their name will go on the list and it may take a few years before they get a kidney. During this time the patient will need to remain on dialysis
The recipient has to be on dialysis for at least one month before he/she can register for a deceased donor kidney

ABO Incompatible Transplants

Average Life of an ABO incompatible Transplanted Kidney is ~10-12 years
If the Recipient does not have a blood group matched donor, but there is a willing donor who is not blood group matched, transplant can still be done
Risks for rejection is higher than blood group matched transplants
There is more pre-transplant preparation required

Swap Transplants

Swap transplants are conducted when two donor-recipient pairs are blood group mis-matched but can donor from one pair matches the recipient from the other pair
This allows for blood group matched transplant and lower risk of rejection and longer life-span for the donated kidney

Second and Third Transplants

If the first kidney transplant fails, patients can be considered for a second transplant or even a third is the second fails
Each subsequent transplant is more complex and the risk of rejection will be greater