Treatment Choice 3: Kidney Transplantation
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
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Another treatment option for patients with complete kidney failure is kidney transplantation. In this treatment method, a healthy kidney is surgically placed into the patient’s body. The transplanted kidney then takes on the work of the two failed kidneys. Sometimes the failed kidneys are left in place if they do not cause infection or high blood pressure.
The donated kidney may come from a donor who has recently died or from a living donor. However, the transplanted kidney should closely match the patient’s body to prevent rejection of the organ.
To prevent the patient’s immune system from attacking the new kidney, the doctor will give the patient medicines called immunosuppressants. However, taking immunosuppressants can make the immune system weak. A weakened immune system can cause a person to become easily sick or prone to infections.
A successful transplant takes a coordinated effort from your whole health care team, including your nephrologist, transplant surgeon, transplant coordinator, pharmacist, dietitian, and social worker. But the most important members of your health care team are you and your family. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life. (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, May 2006)
References:
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (May 2006). Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Peritoneal Dialysis (NIH Publication No. 06–4687). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/transplant/. Accessed: November 30, 2008
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (May 2006). Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Peritoneal Dialysis (NIH Publication No. 06–4688). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/. Accessed: November 30, 2008
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (November 2007). Kidney Failure: Choosing a Treatment That’s Right for You (NIH Publication No. 08–2412). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/choosingtreatment/index.htm. Accessed: November 30, 2008
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (December 2006). Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Hemodialysis (NIH Publication No. 07–4666). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/hemodialysis/. Accessed: November 30, 2008
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The donated kidney may come from a donor who has recently died or from a living donor. However, the transplanted kidney should closely match the patient’s body to prevent rejection of the organ.
To prevent the patient’s immune system from attacking the new kidney, the doctor will give the patient medicines called immunosuppressants. However, taking immunosuppressants can make the immune system weak. A weakened immune system can cause a person to become easily sick or prone to infections.
A successful transplant takes a coordinated effort from your whole health care team, including your nephrologist, transplant surgeon, transplant coordinator, pharmacist, dietitian, and social worker. But the most important members of your health care team are you and your family. By learning about your treatment, you can work with your health care team to give yourself the best possible results, and you can lead a full, active life. (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, May 2006)
References:
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (May 2006). Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Peritoneal Dialysis (NIH Publication No. 06–4687). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/transplant/. Accessed: November 30, 2008
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (May 2006). Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Peritoneal Dialysis (NIH Publication No. 06–4688). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/. Accessed: November 30, 2008
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (November 2007). Kidney Failure: Choosing a Treatment That’s Right for You (NIH Publication No. 08–2412). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/choosingtreatment/index.htm. Accessed: November 30, 2008
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (December 2006). Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Hemodialysis (NIH Publication No. 07–4666). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes f Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/hemodialysis/. Accessed: November 30, 2008
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