What do you need to know about kidney transplantation in the Philippines?
- Your Eligibility for the Transplant Will Be Evaluated
- You May Not Get Qualified
- There Are Tests to Identify If the Kidney Is Suitable for You
- It Is an Invasive Procedure
- The Life After a Kidney Transplantation
For patients with kidney failure, there are two treatment options — dialysis and transplantation. Although there are patients who respond well to dialysis, some do not. This is why kidney transplantation in the Philippines happens.
A kidney transplant refers to the procedure of replacing a healthy kidney with a kidney that is no longer functioning properly.
This surgery is often the treatment of choice compared to a lifetime of dialysis. It can treat chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to help patients feel better and live longer. Interested in learning more? Here’s what you need to know about kidney transplantation.
Your Eligibility For The Transplant Will Be Evaluated
There are numerous steps to prepare for a kidney transplant. First, you will be thoroughly evaluated by a transplant center to determine your eligibility. The evaluation period can take anywhere from several days to months.
Afterward, you will meet members of the transplant team who can include a transplant surgeon, psychiatrist, psychologist, nephrologist, nurse coordinator, dietitian, social worker, and financial coordinator.
The team will be the one to decide if a kidney transplant is right for you. During the evaluation, they will discuss the process and review your physical, psychosocial, and financial needs.
The evaluation tests you may need include:
- Mental Health Evaluation – This is where psychological and social issues are assessed like stress, financial issues, and support by family or significant others.
- Blood Tests – These are done to help find a good donor match, to check your priority on the donor list, and to help avoid organ rejection.
- Diagnostic tests – Diagnostic tests may be done to assess your overall health status. These may include X-rays, MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, kidney biopsy, or dental exams.
- Any other necessary tests determined by the transplant team – Women may need a pap smear test, gynecology evaluation, and a mammogram. On the other hand, men may need a prostate exam.
You May Not Get Qualified
The transplant team can decide that you are not ready for a transplant. Do not be discouraged and remember that each transplant center has its eligibility criteria.
Some cases that could keep you from having kidney transplantation are:
- Serious health problems that dictate you are not healthy enough for surgery
- Untreated mental health disorders
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- History of missing treatments or not taking medication as prescribed
There Are Tests To Identify If The Kidney Is Suitable For You
Once the transplant team decides that you are eligible and you don’t have a living kidney donor (a person who wants to donate their kidney to you), you will be added to the national waiting list for a deceased donor kidney (a kidney from someone who has just died). Only then can you proceed to the next process.
On the other hand, if you have a living kidney donor, you will need tests to see if the donor’s kidney is a match for your body. For the kidney to be a good match, the new kidney will need to be similar to the other organs and tissues in your body. The immune system must not attack it as well.
The tests to determine whether a donated kidney is a match for you may include:
- Blood typing – It is preferable to have a kidney donor whose blood type matches your own.
- Tissue typing – This test determines whether your body tissues will reject the organ.
- Crossmatch – This determines whether the antibodies in your blood will react against specific antigens in the donor’s blood.
It Is An Invasive Procedure
A kidney transplant is an invasive procedure and requires a stay in a hospital. The surgery operation can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.
The procedure will start by placing you on your back at the surgery table. Then, you will be given general anesthesia to make you sleep while the operation is ongoing.
The surgeon will make an incision on your abdomen or belly area. The new kidney will be placed into your body and the blood vessels of the new kidney will be attached to your blood vessels.
Afterward, the donor’s ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney) will be connected to your bladder. Usually, your kidneys will not be removed. The surgeon will close the incision and you will be taken to the recovery room.
The Life After A Kidney Transplantation
After the operation, you can expect to spend several days to a week in the hospital. Your doctor will keep a close watch for signs of complication. Your new kidney will make urine if they function properly. If not, you will need to stay on dialysis until this starts happening. You may also experience soreness or pain around the incision while you are healing.
Most kidney transplant recipients can return home within 6 to 8 weeks after the transplant. However, patients should not lift heavy objects or exercise until the wound has healed.
Key Takeaway
If you are advised to receive kidney transplantation in the Philippines, keep in mind that it is a complex process that is essential for a better life. To determine whether you need kidney transplantation, don’t hesitate to ask your medical health professionals at Perpetual Help Medical Center-Las Pinas.