Transplantation :

Transplantation is a process in which healthy human kidney is implanted into a patient who has developed ESRD. An individual interested in receiving a transplant must be in good overall health and other factors such as age and emotional outlook must be considered. The details about the risks of surgery, success rates, costs and side effects of medications will have to be discussed with the kidney doctor.

Many patients who receive a kidney transplant do not need to have their own kidneys removed. However, long-standing problems such as chronic infection of the kidneys or uncontrolled hypertension may require removal of kidneys prior to transplantation.

Success rates for transplantation continue to improve with advances in technique and immunology. Unfortunately, some patients will still lose their transplanted kidney. For these patients it is important to remember that rejecting the first kidney does not indicate that another transplant will also be unsuccessful. Also, dialysis remains an alternative if transplant fails.

Kidneys come from two sources : a non-living donor (cadaver) or a living donor.

Kidneys from Cadaver Donor :

- Patients who wish to receive a cadaver kidney transplant can select one of the following centers.
- Patient must select the nephrologist from the center he selects.
- This nephrologist will carry out required investigations to determine that patient is fit for transplantation treatment.
- Nephrologist will send your name to the central registry ZTCC
- ZTCC will put patient on the city waiting list according to previously established criteria. i.e. age, Period on dialysis, etc.
- When a cadaver donor is available in any of the above centers they will inform ZTCC.
- One kidney will be given to a patient registered in the center where the donor is and the other is to be distributed by ZTCC.
- ZTCC after taking into consideration the donors details will see who from the city waiting list is to be called to receive the second kidney.
- The criteria of selection remains the same for allocating the kidneys, both in the center where the donor is and in ZTCC.
- The top candidate may not get the organ for one of several reasons e.g. he/she must be available, healthy enough to undergo major surgery, have the necessary funds for surgery and willing to be transplanted immediately
- Also a laboratory test to measure compatibility between the donor and recipient is necessary.(lymphocyte cross match)
- Once the right candidate is selected, and all testing is complete, surgery is scheduled and the transplant takes place.

Not everyone who needs a kidney transplant will have a family member who is fit and willing to donate one of the two kidneys. For such patients the option of getting a kidney from a cadaver donor is a boon.