Kidney transplantation is a surgical operation that involves the transplantation of a kidney from another person to a person. It is used as a method of renal replacement therapy in end-stage chronic renal failure

The main criteria for the selection of a donor kidney are the correspondence of blood groups, HLA antigens (different forms of the same gene), approximate correspondence of the weight and age of donor and recipient. In some cases, operations are performed without taking into account the blood group. Donors should not be carriers of vector-borne (i.e. blood-borne) infections (syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, C).

Operation 

Before transplantation, patient is given general anesthesia intravenously in the arm or hand, and then inhalation anesthesia. It maintains sleep throughout the entire operation and blocks any pain. The operation takes 1.5 - 3 hours.

First, doctor makes an incision 2 fingers above the pubis and prepares the site for the graft. The donor kidney will be sutured to the artery and vein, and the ureter (the muscle tube through which urine flows) to the bladder.

During kidney transplantation, a catheter is placed in the bladder. This is necessary to drain urine and reduce the pressure in the bladder if the kidney is working too hard. The catheter may cause burning sensation in the urethra or urge to urinate.

During surgery, a disposable ureteral stent is sometimes placed to reduce the risk of complications. It is a tube fixed at one end in the pelvis of the transplanted kidney, and at the other in the bladder. The stent is removed 14-30 days after surgery. For this, cystoscopy is performed.

Immediately after operation

Immediately after the operation, patient is transferred to the intensive care unit. The room is specially equipped for the early postoperative period. Patient remains in hospital for another 1-3 weeks. In case of complications, the stay may be extended.

During the recovery period, patient needs:

the next day after the operation, get out of bed and start moving around;

turn in bed every hour, breathe deeply and cough 10-20 times an hour;

take immunosuppressive drugs.

Patient after kidney transplant should take these drugs throughout their life with the transplant - they reduce the likelihood of rejection of the new kidney.