From Diagnosis to Donor: A Guide to the Basics of Kidney Transplantation

The technology of organ transplantation is perhaps one of the most revolutionary advancements in medical science. It has been helping patients with failures of vital organs like the kidneys, liver, and lungs to win their chance at a second life. However, perhaps due to its seemingly invasive and complex nature, there is often fear and confusion surrounding it. Like any medical procedure, organ transplants come with their challenges and risks. However, these can be effectively tackled by being aware and disciplined and, very importantly, with the help of a team of medical experts.

This is exactly what happened in the lives of Mr Raghunath Reddy and his wife from Kadiri and Mr Maheshwar Reddy and his wife from Anantapur. The swap kidney transplant surgery they underwent at Star Hospitals brought back smiles to their faces and hope to the many around them. Before going into this particular case, let us look at the basics of kidney transplants.

The kidneys play a vital role in keeping the body healthy. They filter waste, toxins, and excess fluids from the blood, which are then excreted as urine. They also help regulate blood pressure, maintain the balance of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and produce hormones that support red blood cell production and bone health.

Damage may happen to the kidneys over time or suddenly due to several factors. Some of these are diabetes, high BP, infections, prolonged medication, etc. Since the kidneys can still function when partially damaged, the issues often go unnoticed for a long time, until they are severe. Delayed diagnosis is one of the most common issues associated with kidney disease.

When the kidneys fail, it affects all the major biological systems of the body.

-          The electrolyte balance of the body is lost gradually. This leads to muscle weakness, heart problems, and nerve damage.

-          There can be severe anaemia due to reduced hormone production, resulting in a lower RBC count.

-          Bone disorders are also common, due to imbalances in the levels of elements like calcium and phosphorus.

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure usually performed on patients whose one or both kidneys fail to function efficiently. A healthy kidney from a donor is placed into a person whose kidneys have failed. The new kidney takes over the work of filtering blood and removing waste. Unlike dialysis, which only manages the condition, a transplant restores kidney function by replacing the damaged organ with a healthy one. While this requires careful medical intervention and lifelong medication, a successful transplant can add not just years but vitality to a patient’s life.  

In kidney transplants, there can be both living and deceased donors. Healthy individuals can choose to donate one of their kidneys after being tested for compatibility with the recipient and overall health. Usually, the donor’s blood group has to match that of the recipient (though alternate options are available in case there is an absolute unavailability of a matching blood group). Living donors with a biological link, like siblings or children, are preferred due to a higher chance of organ matching. However, fully unrelated donors can also donate their kidneys after proper medical consultation.

Kidneys from deceased donors are also used for transplantation. These are either people who have registered for organ donation while they were alive or those whose relatives decided to do so after their death or brain death. In these cases, the organ is carefully collected from the deceased promptly to ensure its safety.

Though certain challenges around the procedure might seem difficult, they can be navigated with the help of infrastructural, economic, and social support for the patient:

-          Finding a suitable donor is one of the biggest challenges faced in kidney transplant surgeries. Potential donors are tested for blood type and tissue compatibility. These factors are critical to a successful organ transplant. The waiting time for donors can be emotionally tolling on the patients. Hospitals and voluntary organisations have registered groups that aid in finding suitable donors, enabling patients from even economically and socially backwards backgrounds to get the benefits of the procedure.

-          The risk of rejection of the organ by the recipient’s body is never zero in organ transplant cases. The immune system of the recipient may recognise the new kidney as foreign and attack it. To prevent this from happening, the patients who have undergone kidney transplants are asked to take immunosuppressants lifelong. These medications might have side effects that should be discussed with the physician before the treatment.

-          Kidney transplantation is a relatively expensive procedure, considering also the post-operative care and follow-ups. It can be financially burdensome and, hence, emotionally taxing on the family of the patient. Several voluntary organisations and hospitals have arrangements in place to help such cases.

Despite these challenges, with proper care and monitoring, many kidney transplant recipients go on to lead healthy and active lives.

For donors:
 After kidney donation, donors mostly stay in the hospital for 2–3 days. They can return to normal activities within 4-5 weeks. Pain management, wound care, and monitoring for complications such as infection or bleeding are essential. Donors also need to undergo regular follow-ups to ensure their remaining kidney is functioning well. It has been found that for donors, long-term health outcomes are typically excellent with no significant impact on life expectancy.

For Recipients:
 Kidney transplant recipients are closely monitored in the hospital for about a week. They begin immunosuppressive medications immediately to prevent organ rejection. Regular blood tests are needed to track kidney function, drug levels, and early signs of complications. Long-term care includes managing the side effects of medications, preventing infections, and routine checkups with the transplant team to ensure the new kidney continues to function properly.

To return to the cases of the couples mentioned at the beginning of the article, it is one of the remarkable success stories of Star Hospital’s kidney transplants. Raghunath Reddy was diagnosed with kidney failure in Bangalore after presenting at a hospital with symptoms such as leg pain, eye swelling, and loss of appetite. He had to undergo dialysis for a period of 7 to 8 months and was very disheartened due to the discomfort it caused him and his family. That is when he came across Star Hospitals Hyderabad through well-meaning friends. On meeting Dr Gandhe Sreedhar and undergoing counselling, Raghunath had his hope restored towards a life of vitality. He was suggested a kidney transplant by the doctor. But all attempts at finding a suitable donor were failures. 

Around the same time, Meena and her husband, Maheshwar Reddy, also approached Dr Sreedhar, tired and fed up with months of dialysis, looking for alternate options. A kidney transplant seemed his only option. But again, the barrier of donor unavailability came up. Maheshwar was advised to undergo an ABOi (ABO-incompatible) kidney transplant. This is a type of transplant where the donor and recipient have different blood types, which would normally lead to rejection of the kidney. In the past, this was considered a major barrier, but advances in medical science have made it possible. This includes taking pre-transplant treatments like IVIG and immunosuppressive therapy. Star Hospitals is one of the first hospitals to introduce this procedure. However, Maheshwar’s family was not financially capable of getting the surgery done. This caused the family and the patient a lot of pain.

Dr Sreedhar, senior consultant and the director of Nephrology and Transplant, along with the team of expert physicians and healthcare personnel at Star Hospitals, came up with a life-saving solution for both patients. They were suggested to opt for Kidney Swap/ Paired Exchange Transplants, where the donor available to Raghunath, his wife, could donate a kidney to Maheshwar, and Maheshwar’s wife could donate her kidney to Raghunath. This solution transformed the patients’ and their families’ lives for the better. The surgery was completed, and the donors and recipients have returned to their daily activities with a rekindled spirit.

With an exceptional success rate of 90% in kidney transplants, Star Hospitals continues to provide hope and vitality to many with the help of its expert physicians and excellent infrastructure. It is one of the few centres in India equipped with facilities for ABOi and Kidney Swap transplants. Star Hospitals is the first to introduce Radial Artery Intervention and Kidney transplant registry for swap kidney pairing in the Telugu states.  The hospital houses advanced screening facilities for early detection. The hospital also runs effective awareness programmes, positively impacting many lives and encouraging kidney disease prevention.

Learn more about our advanced kidney transplant programme and how Star Hospitals is transforming lives every day. Visit the Star Hospitals website or book a consultation today to begin your journey to a happy, healthy life. Each kidney transplant represents a story of hope, healing, and new beginnings. Let your journey start at Star Hospitals—where lives are saved and futures are rebuilt.