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Managing Diarrhea Post-Kidney Transplant: Effective Treatment

Kidney transplantation is a life-changing procedure that offers new hope and improved quality of life for individuals with end-stage kidney disease. However, like any major surgery, it comes with its challenges and potential complications. One such complication that patients may encounter post-kidney transplant is diarrhea. While it can be concerning, understanding the causes, evaluation, and effective management strategies can significantly improve outcomes. In this article, we'll delve into managing diarrhea post-kidney transplant, focusing on effective treatment strategies. Causes of Diarrhea After Kidney Transplant Diarrhea after kidney transplant can have various causes, including medication side effects, infections, dietary changes, and underlying medical conditions. Immunosuppressive medications, which are essential to prevent organ rejection, can sometimes lead to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea. Infections, such as viral or bacterial gastroenteritis, can also trigger...

A kidney Transplant in India is extremely affordable !!

 

What elements influence the price of kidney transplants in India?


Compared to the cost of surgery in many other countries, the cost of a kidney transplant in India starts at USD 13,000 (INR 1,035,000), which includes the pre-transplant examination, surgery, and additional costs. The following factors are also related to the overall cost of kidney transplants in India:

  • Existence of Donor

  • The degree of the patient's illness

  • needed transplant kind

  • length of stay in the hospital

  • the surgeon's training and compensation

  • additional diagnostic laboratory testing

  • other elements, such as the lodging option, the duration of the trip, the itinerary, the cost of the food, and other incidentals.

India's Affordable Kidney Transplant

  • One of the most frequent organ transplantation operations is a kidney transplant. For individuals with end-stage renal failure, also referred to as kidney failure, in which the kidneys no longer work, this operation represents a second chance at life.

  • Dialysis is typically used to begin therapy for such individuals. Although dialysis can support a patient's body's ability to sustain kidney function, the technique is time-consuming and reliant.

  • Even more economical than standard dialysis, kidney transplantation is a long-term treatment for renal failure.

  • One may live with just one completely working kidney, hence kidney donation and transplantation are both conceivable.

  • The operation entails inserting a healthy kidney into the patient's body from a qualified donor.

In India, there are different types of kidney transplant programs

  1. Exchange Kidney Transplant in Pairs


  • In the event that the patient's blood or tissue types do not match those of the donor, this sort of kidney transplant programme is an alternative.

  • When patients have willing but unsuitable donors and are permitted to trade kidneys with one another, this is known as a paired exchange.

  • This indicates that the kidneys are given to someone other than the intended recipients. On the same day and at the same time, there are two kidney transplants and two donor procedures.


  1. kidney transplant if blood types are incompatible


  • Patients in this programme get kidneys from living donors whose blood types are incompatible.

  • Receivers of such kidney transplants must undergo a number of procedures or drugs, including plasmapheresis, before and after surgery.

  • Patients have several plasmapheresis treatments before the transplant and could need more afterwards to maintain low antibody levels.

  • To lower the amount of immune cells, the surgeons may occasionally additionally need to remove the patient's spleens during the transplant procedure.


  1. Kidney transplant with Sensitized Patient and Positive Crossmatch


  • Under this protocol, patients who have antibodies against their kidney donors—i.e., a positive crossmatch—can get kidney transplants.

  • Because patients are given extra care to lower antibody levels, it is comparable to kidney transplants involving blood types that are incompatible.

  • It can be accomplished through plasmapheresis, which removes the blood's antibodies. Patients can undertake the transplant operation if the patient's body's levels of these antibodies have been effectively reduced.

What takes place during a kidney transplant?

Earlier than the transplant

  • A comprehensive physical examination, which includes standard blood tests and functional evaluations of the heart, lungs, and liver, is the first step in the kidney transplant procedure in India. These tests aid the doctor's decision to determine if the patient is eligible for the procedure. These tests aid the doctor's decision to determine the patient's eligibility for the

  • In order to assess the donor's health for donation, they will also go through a set of assessment tests.

  • The doctor will go over the potential choices with the patient and donor if they are both eligible for a kidney transplant.

  • India does not accept foreign patients for cadaveric transplants. Finding a related live donor who can be a good match is thus the sole choice.

  • The patient and the donor will receive assistance from a transplant coordinator in completing the appropriate paperwork for a kidney transplant in India.

  • Patients and the kidney donor awaiting a transplant are recommended to follow a few preoperative recommendations, such as:

  1. Frequently test your blood and organ function

  2. Have a healthy diet and weight.

  3. Keep blood haemoglobin levels between 10 and 12 g/DL.

  4. Dialysis should be performed as advised by the nephrologist

Throughout the process

  • 48 hours prior to the surgery's scheduled date, both the patient and the donor will be admitted to the hospital.

  • An analysis of the existence of any previously produced rejection antibodies will be performed using a confirmatory lymphocyte crossmatch test on both the patient and the donor. In addition, the patient will begin taking immunosuppressive medicine 24 hours prior to the procedure and have a hemodialysis session.

  • An intravenous (IV) line is first inserted, along with other catheters, cables, and ports to draw blood samples and monitor the patient's heart and blood pressure. Additionally, a urinary catheter is put into the bladder. Both the patient and the donor experience this.

  • On the operating table, the patient is set up to lie on their back. Throughout the procedure, the anesthesiologist keeps a constant eye on the patient's respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygenation level.

  • First, a laparoscopic technique is used to remove the donor's kidney. Preservatives are instantly flushed through the kidney and it is then put in the appropriate environment.

  • The new kidney will then be implanted after the surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen of the patient.

  • The damaged kidney from the patient will typically remain in situ if it is not causing any more harm after the donor kidney has been inserted into the abdomen. The right iliac fossa, where the replacement kidney is put, makes it simple to link the ureter to the new kidney.

  • The external iliac artery and vein will then be joined to the renal artery and vein of the donor kidney by the surgeon using sutures. The connection is promptly examined for bleeding at the suture lines, and the blood flow via these veins is rapidly restored.

  • The portion of the donor kidney's ureter that connects to the bladder is the tube that carries urine away from the kidney.

  • A tube is then inserted into the incision site to drain the fluid and lessen swelling before the wound is stitched or surgically stapled shut. The incision site will thereafter get a sterile bandage or dressing from the surgeon.

  • Following surgery, both the patient and the donor will be taken off the breathing support.


After the process

  • During the post-transplant phase, the patients are continuously watched to verify their kidney functioning and watch for any early indications of rejection. The medical staff will modify the different drugs in accordance with the patient's requirements.

  • The patient is more vulnerable to infections after the transplant as a result of the immunosuppressive drugs they are taking. The transplant team continuously monitors for a rise in immunosuppression-related side effects such infections and malignancies.

Living in India after a kidney transplant

Patients with end-stage renal illnesses frequently view a kidney transplant as their second shot at life. The technique helps patients live longer and do their daily tasks better. The outcomes of a kidney transplant, however, might vary from patient to patient. That typically relies upon the patient's age and age, general age and general health of the patient. 


On Recovery period

  • The patient will remain in the hospital for at least ten days while being closely monitored and cared for. The severity of the patient's disease and overall health will determine how long they must stay in the hospital.

  • The doctor will approve the patient's discharge from the hospital with the assistance of a medical attendant after their condition has stabilised.

  • After the transplant, the doctor will urge the patient to find short-term housing close to the hospital. This enables them to exert more control over the rejection risk and other potential side effects of a kidney transplant.

  • The patient will also need to go to scheduled medical follow-up appointments during the healing phase, which may be for a few weeks, months, or even years.


After Recovery period 

A patient would need to make long-term changes to their lifestyle for kidney transplant surgery to be effective in India. These consist of:


  1. Dependency on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of one's life

When the immune system attacks the new kidney, several drugs help to both prevent and cure rejection. These medications suppress the immune system and stop it from attacking the kidney transplant. Depending on the recipient's individual transplant demands, a variety of medicines, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antiproliferative drugs, antilymphocyte therapies, and more, are administered.


  1. The importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle

In addition to the drugs, a patient must adopt a healthy lifestyle after transplant surgery. This entails following a healthy diet, keeping a healthy weight, abstaining from smoking and alcohol use, and reducing the risk of contracting any infections.


  1. Regular check-ins

The patient's path to full recovery from illness doesn't end with a kidney transplant. The patient is instructed to maintain contact with their physician, go to check-ups, and schedule routine testing frequently. This aids the patient in monitoring their health and managing any issues that could develop in the near future.


WHAT ARE INDIA'S TOP HOSPITALS FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS?

India's kidney transplant survival rate


Chronic renal failure patients are now living longer, more pleasant lives because of advancements in medicine and technology. India has some of the greatest hospitals and surgeons in the world, which contributes to the high success rate of kidney transplants performed there. The outcomes of a kidney transplant procedure, however, could differ from patient to patient. This mostly depends on the patient's overall health and capacity to adapt to a new way of life. The typical patient survival rates that have been observed


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