Kidney transplant how long does it last

The other 70 percent come from patients who have died suddenly and are organ donors What are the advantages of living donation? There are three advantages to living donations versus getting a deceased donor kidney: There are not enough deceased donor kidneys, so getting a kidney from a friend or relative is often quicker than waiting on the transplant list for a deceased donor kidney.

A kidney from a living donor is completely healthy. They are known to work better and longer than deceased donor kidneys. If the kidney is donated from a relative, the tissue may be a closer match and lower the chance of rejection. Can someone who is not a close relative be a living donor?

Yes, a kidney from someone who is not a relative can work very well. How does living donation affect the donor? What does the operation involve? Read more about what happens during a kidney transplant and the risks of a kidney transplant. Having a healthy lifestyle after a kidney transplant goes a long way to minimise the risk of complications. Read more about living with a transplant.

These include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney is matched in terms of blood group and tissue type, and the age and overall health of the person receiving the donation. If you have a kidney transplant that fails, you can usually be put on the waiting list for another transplant. You may need dialysis in the meantime. In the UK, consent is required before organs can be donated. A person can give their consent to become an organ donor after death by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register or by discussing their wishes with loved ones.

Alternatively, a person's organs can be donated if consent is obtained after their death from an authorised person, such as a relative or friend. You can remove yourself from the register at any time, and you can specify what you're willing to donate. However, your post-transplant expenses may only be covered for a limited number of years.

Click here to learn more about insurance and transplant. Skip to main content. Kidney Transplant. When your kidneys fail, treatment is needed to replace the work your own kidneys can no longer do. There are two types of treatment for kidney failure: dialysis or transplant.

Many people feel that a kidney transplant offers more freedom and a better quality of life than dialysis. In making a decision about whether this is the best treatment for you, you may find it helpful to talk to people who already have a kidney transplant. You also need to speak to your doctor, nurse and family members. What is a kidney transplant? When you get a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney is placed inside your body to do the work your own kidneys can no longer do.

On the plus side, there are fewer limits on what you can eat and drink, but you should follow a heart-healthy diet. Your health and energy should improve. In fact, a successful kidney transplant may allow you to live the kind of life you were living before you got kidney disease. Studies show that people with kidney transplants live longer than those who remain on dialysis. On the minus side, there are the risks of surgery. You will also need to take anti-rejection medicines for as long as your new kidney is working, which can have side effects.

You will have a higher risk for infections and certain types of cancer. Although most transplants are successful and last for many years, how long they last can vary from one person to the next. Many people will need more than one kidney transplant during a lifetime. Looking for more info about kidney transplants? Leave this field blank. Getting a transplant before you need to start dialysis is called a preemptive transplant.

It allows you to avoid dialysis altogether. Getting a transplant not long after kidneys fail but with some time on dialysis is referred to as an early transplant. Both have benefits. Some research shows that a pre-emptive or early transplant, with little or no time spent on dialysis, can lead to better long-term health. It may also allow you to keep working, save time and money, and have a better quality of life.

Who can get a kidney transplant? You must be healthy enough to have the operation. You must also be free from cancer and infection.

Every person being considered for transplant will get a full medical and psychosocial evaluation to make sure they are a good candidate for transplant. The evaluation helps find any problems, so they can be corrected before transplant.

For most people, getting a transplant can be a good treatment choice. Living donor kidney transplants are more common today than they were 40 years ago. Karl works with a woman who donated one of her kidneys to her niece. More than 33, organ transplants were performed in the U.

More than 19, of those were kidney transplants, and more than 5, of those involved a living donor. My message may be even more important. He has had some other health issues along the way, including bladder cancer two years ago. He also has had his hips replaced. He attributes both to the side effects from a lifetime of taking the immunosuppressant prednisone, one of two medications he has been on since the transplant. His kidney function has declined to 20 percent and his doctor says it may only last a few more years, so the Guinness World Record is out of reach.

But he's not complaining. I just feel fortunate. Contact Capi Lynn at clynn StatesmanJournal. Facebook Twitter Email.