Kidney Transplantation and the Afterlife

Once the longed-for call has arrived, everything has to happen very quickly – the donor kidney is transplanted no later than 24 hours after collection. The affected person is not allowed to eat or drink anything and must leave immediately for the clinic. There he will be carefully examined again.

The actual operation is performed under general anesthesia and takes about 2 to 3 hours. The donor kidney with blood vessels and the ureter is implanted in the right or left groin region, as the patient’s large pelvic vessels are particularly accessible there. For this purpose, an approximately 20 cm long skin incision is made about 10 cm below and to the side of the navel. The renal vessels of the donor kidney are connected to the pelvic vessels, and the ureter of the new organ is connected to the urinary bladder.

The old kidneys are usually left in place because they do not interfere and the additional surgery would increase the risk of complications. The new kidney, although quite protected in the pelvic cavity, is located closer to the abdominal wall than the old one and can even be palpated there. It usually takes up its function within 2 to 7 days, at the latest after 2 weeks. The patient usually recovers quickly. The skin staples are removed after about 10 days, and the total hospital stay is 3 to 8 weeks.

What complications can occur?

Complications occur mainly immediately after surgery. These include occlusion of the renal vessels by blood clots and leaks from the connecting sutures. Most feared, however, are graft rejection and infection. In many cases, the difficulties can be controlled in time with adequate therapy without the affected person losing the new organ.

Living with the new kidney

Immediately following surgery, drug therapy is started to prevent rejection. These immunosuppressants must be taken for life and according to a rigid regimen. Because they suppress the immune system, patients are more susceptible to infections.

Other drugs may only be used in consultation with the doctor – even headache tablets or homeopathic remedies can have fatal consequences. Regular check-ups are also extremely important to check the function of the new kidney and the medication dosage and to detect complications at an early stage.

A special diet is not necessary, but the diet should be balanced and low in salt, cholesterol, fat and sugar. Work, sports, travel, pregnancy – in principle, everything is possible as long as extreme stress is avoided.

The prospects of living for a long time with a foreign kidney are now quite good because of the potent drugs. In one in ten patients, the kidney is rejected in the first year and the patient has to go back on dialysis. After five years, the donor kidney is still functioning smoothly in 70 to 80% of patients. Meanwhile, there are sufferers who have already been living with their new kidney for more than 30 years!