As estimated by the statistical report of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) 2019, kidney disease is the leading eighth major cause of mortality around the globe with an estimation of about 254,028 total deaths. Kidney-related issues not only disrupt the functioning of the body's vital organs but hamper an individual's overall health. To overcome this problem of malfunctioning of the kidneys; kidney transplantation is one of the most effective solutions. It is a delicate surgery that opens a window for people with kidney failure to live a normal life. This operation involves the use of a kidney from a living or cadaveric donor to implant it in a kidney failure patient. This can help enhance their general well-being and drastically reduce the use of equipment such as dialysis.
Therefore, the following preparations must be made by the patient and their family before receiving a kidney transplant. Here are several tips that will be highlighted about getting ready for a kidney transplant.
1. Understand the process: It is very important to have general knowledge regarding the transplant as the process of evaluation before the surgery, the surgery process, and the aftercare process are all crucial to understand. There are resources where patients can obtain information from their healthcare team, the internet, and other fellow patients. They should also get much more information from their doctors if they have something to ask regarding the procedure.
2. Pre-transplant evaluations: Before the transplantation of a kidney patients need to go through several tests to evaluate their general health status to allow them to undergo the transplantation process. Such assessments usually involve – lab investigations, imaging procedures, and other opinions from different healthcare experts.
3. Donor Safety: The safety of the donor is of utmost importance, any individual would only feel safe and would be encouraged to donate a kidney only when they know that it is an entirely safe procedure, with no harm whatsoever. During kidney transplant surgery, it is essential to make sure that the donor’s safety is considered a priority.
4. Blood and tissue typing: One of the most important stages in the transplant procedure is the compatibility of the donor’s blood and tissues with those of the recipient. This helps the doctor to ascertain that the kidney being donated by the donor is compatible with the recipient’s body. It involves typing human leukocyte antigen HLA to match the donor and recipient to prevent graft rejection.
5. Medication management: Because the immune system still recognizes the transplanted kidney as foreign tissue, patients who receive a kidney transplant must take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives. The important issues to be discussed are dosing side effects and drug interactions. Patients should cooperate fully with their caregivers to have proper control of their medications.
6. Financial planning: Kidney transplantation is also an expensive procedure, and patients may require many payments such as copayments, deductibles, and travel expenses regarding transplantation. That is why they have to consult with insurance and discuss the transplant with healthcare team members talking about the costs.
7. Legal aspects: However, it is very crucial to turn to the legal concerns linked to the procedure of transplant to avoid any chances of organ trafficking and organ misuse. This involves undertaking a living will and appointing a medical proxy to settle on the healthcare decisions for the patient. As for the source of organs, other than the living donors, patients should make their decision and the result of it, clear to the family. It is essential to review the checkpoints about the legal aspects of organ donation, one such important act is The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, of 1994 which aims to prohibit the illegal usage of organs, organ trafficking, and any commercial dealings with human organs.
8. Emotional and psychological preparation: The process of receiving a kidney transplant is rather an emotional and stressful one. People should not forget about the interviews with relatives, friends, and healthcare providers if they need psychological help. Patients can join a support group which is very important as this will enable them to find people who are experiencing similar situations as they are, and therefore they can share their experiences and feelings.
9. Nutrition: Staying as healthy as possible is important for people who are going to undergo transplant surgery, so a proper diet is essential. It is recommended that patients should consult a registered dietitian from the best kidney transplant surgeon in Noida, and come up with an appropriate nutrition plan. Diet plays a crucial role in weight and blood pressure control and other related disorders in patients.
10. Exercise: Exercise has a critical role in keeping one fit physically and increasing the likelihood of a successful kidney transplant. Since exercises should be chosen based on the patient’s health condition, a transplant surgeon or a physical therapist should assist in choosing exercises for the patient.
11. Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake: A patient should not smoke before and after the transplant and the use of alcohol should be moderate. These habits delay the healing process of a wound, cause the likelihood of getting an infection, and negatively affect the Kidney.
12. Prepare for hospital stay: Patients should make necessary travel arrangements, pack personal belongings for their hospital stay, and decide with whom they would like to stay together during the hospitalization.
13. Post-transplant care: Specifically, there should always be a plan for follow-up of the patient and management of the drugs that should be given to the patient after the transplant; the kidney function should also be monitored constantly. The patient might need to have good cooperation with his or her healthcare team to get the best results after the transplant.
Hence, preparing for a kidney transplant is a long and intricate procedure that involves a lot of effort, time, and cooperation between the patient, his family, and the medical staff and specialists. The given recommendations will allow for avoiding potential problems and getting the transplant surgery done as well as receiving further health benefits. Patience is required to ensure they get the right information, be insistent to seek clarification on issues and be active participants with the healthcare team all through the transplant process. To know more about diagnostic care as well as the treatment options during the kidney transplant, book an appointment with Dr. Vipin Tyagi today.