A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure that’s done to treat kidney failure. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and remove it from the body through your urine. They also help maintain your body’s fluid and electrolyte balance. If your kidneys stop working, waste builds up in your body and can make you very sick.
People whose kidneys have failed usually undergo a treatment called dialysis. This treatment mechanically filters waste that builds up in the bloodstream when the kidneys stop working.
Some people whose kidneys have failed may qualify for a kidney transplant. In this procedure, one or both kidneys are replaced with donor kidneys from a live or deceased person.
A kidney transplant can free you from a long-term dependence on a dialysis machine and the strict schedule that goes with it. This can allow you to live a more active life. However, kidney transplants aren’t suitable for everyone. This includes people with active infections and those who are severely overweight.
During a kidney transplant, your surgeon will take a donated kidney and place it in your body. Even though you’re born with two kidneys, you can lead a healthy life with only one functioning kidney. After the transplant, you’ll have to take immune-suppressing medications to keep your immune system from attacking the new organ.
Although rates of serious complications have fallen sharply in the last few decades, kidney transplants – like any other type of surgery – are not risk-free. Here are some complications that may arise courtesy of online casino gambling.
Infection
Minor infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), colds and flu, are common after kidney transplants. Potentially more serious infections, such as pneumonia and cytomegalovirus (CMV), can occur and may require hospital treatment.
Blood clots
Blood clots can develop in the arteries that have been connected to the donated kidney. This is estimated to occur in around 1 in 100 kidney transplants. In some cases, it may be possible to dissolve the blood clots using medication, but it’s often necessary to remove the donated kidney if the blood supply is blocked.
Narrowing of an artery
Narrowing of the artery connected to the donated kidney, known as arterial stenosis, can sometimes occur after a kidney transplant. In some cases, it can develop months, or even years, after the transplant. Arterial stenosis can cause a rise in blood pressure. The artery often needs to be stretched to widen it, and a small metal tube called a stent may be placed inside the affected artery to stop it narrowing again.
Blocked ureter
The ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder) can become blocked after a kidney transplant. It can be blocked soon after the transplant – by blood clots, for example. It can also be blocked months or years later, usually due to scar tissue. It may be possible to unblock the ureter by draining it with a small tube called a catheter. Sometimes surgery may be required to unblock the ureter.
Urine leakage
Occasionally, urine may leak from where the ureter joins the bladder after surgery. This usually occurs during the first month after the procedure. The fluid may build up in the tummy or leak through the surgical incision. If you develop a urine leak, you’ll usually need to have further surgery to repair it.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a common complication of having a kidney transplant. This is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. Some people develop it after a kidney transplant because, as they no longer feel unwell, they eat more and gain too much weight. Some types of immunosuppressant can also make you more likely to develop diabetes.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure is also a common long-term complication of a kidney transplant. Many people who need a kidney transplant already have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, and taking immunosuppressant’s can make the condition worse as stated by experts from online casino newzealand.
Cancer
The long-term use of immunosuppressant’s also increases your risk of developing some types of cancer, particularly types known to be caused by viruses (as you will be more vulnerable to the effects of infection).