Kidney Transplantation
In Wales, around 100 kidney transplants are undertaken each year.
Alongside dialysis, kidney transplantation is the other main form that makes up renal replacement therapy for individuals with end stage kidney disease.
In many patients, a kidney transplant offers the best long-term outcome and quality of life.
While dialysis is able to remove most of the waste products from the body, it does not replace all the functions of having your own Kidneys. However, a transplant does.
As with all procedures, there is an associated risk. Your suitability to receive a kidney may depend on factors such as age, general health, weight and your specific medical conditions. If your kidney doctor assesses you as suitable for a transplant, they will discuss this further with a transplant surgeon and you will be placed on the waiting list.
Kidneys are donated in a number of ways – either from a living or deceased donor. A live donor can be someone you know who would like to offer their kidney, or from someone you have not previously met. If the person who wants to donate is not deemed compatible with you (blood group or tissue type mismatch), it is possible to enter part of a ‘pairing’ or ‘pooling’ scheme, involving more than one donor and recipient (person who receives the kidney) pair. In this approach, a donor may give their kidney to a compatible recipient in another part of the country and vice versa, allowing more recipients to benefit.
If transplantation is agreed upon, there are a series of health checks to be done and you will meet the surgeon in charge of your operation. Your surgeon will explain the operation in more depth to you, as well as discussing preparation and steps to be taken in the lead up to the day. While living donor operations are planned with a set date, a kidney from a deceased donor may become available at any time with short notice, due to the unpredictability.
You will be asleep during the operation itself, which takes several hours. In the procedure, a cut is made into the bottom of the abdomen and the donor kidney will be attached to your blood supply and placed in your tummy. The ureter (tube through which urine leaves kidney) from the donor kidney is connected to your bladder. Often during the operation, a flexible plastic tube called a stent is inserted into the ureter to keep it open. This is taken out around six weeks after under local anaesthetic. Usually, your own kidneys will be left in place during the operation. After surgery, you will be taken to a ward where you are closely monitored and given fluids to help the kidney. The duration you will have to stay in hospital is usually around a week, but varies from patient to patient. After you are discharged from hospital, you will have regular check-ups with the transplant team. In the long term, you will be given ‘immunosuppressant’ medications to take. These tablets prevent your immune system from attacking the new kidney you have received.
Donor kidneys may not work for as long as non-transplanted kidneys; some patients may require more than one transplant in their lifetimes. However, transplantation allows patients to go about their daily activities without the constraints of dialysis. For more information on transplantation and life after your transplant, please see the information leaflet links above.
Other treatments
Dialysis
Dialysis is a medical treatment in which waste products are removed from the blood artificially, effectively taking over the job of the kidneys.
Kidney Wales case studies
Carla’s Story
Back in 2019 I was a busy full time mental health nurse and Mum to two young girls. I had started to feel very tired, and not just from being…
Rosie’s Story
In March 2020 my best friend was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and subsequently told she was in kidney failure, this also coincided with the world shutting down due to…
James’ Story
James was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure at age 24… This is his story. I’m James Despite kidney problems from birth, I count myself as becoming a kidney patient at…
Jasmin’s Story
Jasmine cared for her father who had chronic kidney disease… This is her story. As a young person I supported my father who became unwell in part due to chronic…
Mair’s Story
Mair was diagnosed with myeloma that attacked her kidneys… This is her story. I’m Mair, It all kicked off at the start of 2019 ,when I just felt a bit…
Helen’s Story
Although I’ll always be a kidney patient my “renal family” of medical staff, patients and Kidney Wales are there to help and support me and my family. Helen was diagnosed…
Darren’s Story
The community feel from the entire network of kidney patients is absolutely amazing. Darren has Chronic Kidney Disease and Nephrotic Syndrome. This is his story. Darren initially dismissed his symptoms…
Gareth’s Story
Kidney Disease has changed our lives, but it would have been far more difficult to get through without the support of Kidney Wales Gareth donated a Kidney to his daughter……
Liz’s Story
Liz was diagnosed with Anca Positive Vasculitis and Chronic Kidney Disease [CKD] in 2016 following an infection.
David’s Story
David Jones suffered from Meningococcal Septicaemia, which led to kidney failure.
Beth’s Story
Beth’s son Joseph was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome at 6 years old.
Terri Hart’s Story
Terri had been diagnosed with end stage kidney disease as a result of sepsis.
Jade’s Story
A mother of three, who discovered that her nine-year-old daughter was suffering with chronic kidney failure.
Barney’s Story
Barney was born with chronic kidney disease, which will lead to Kidney failure in the future.