What is Preemptive Transplant
A preemptive transplant is a kidney transplant received by patients before starting dialysis. Currently, most of the kidney transplants performed are on patients who are undergoing dialysis since their kidneys are not able to clean impurities from the blood. Preemptive transplant is the most preferred treatment for chronic kidney disease in India and abroad. Surprisingly, only a low percentage of all the kidney transplants performed are done preemptively.
According to the top nephrology doctors in Kolkata, the following factors are responsible for a low rate of preemptive transplant:
- Transplant centers that are not easily accessible for patients
- Shortage of donor-kidneys
- Lack of awareness of the current guidelines among physicians
- Low rates of nephrology doctor referrals for this procedure among patients with lower socio-economic status
Preemptive vs. Post-dialysis Kidney Transplant
While preemptive transplant is received just before the patient needs to start dialysis, some kidney patients need to undergo a post-dialysis transplant where the surgery takes place after starting dialysis.
Benefits of a Preemptive Transplant
The following are some of the benefits associated with preemptive transplant for patients with chronic or end-stage kidney disease:
- Improved survival rates
- Lower chances of transplant rejection of the donor-kidney
- Improved quality of the patient’s life
- Lower costs of treatment
- Avoidance of dialysis, as well as its health complications and dietary restrictions
Aside from the benefits, the preemptive transplant has some risks, including potentially wasting the body’s natural kidney function and early exposure to surgery.
Preemptive Kidney Transplant vs. Dialysis
While both the treatment methods have their respective advantages and disadvantages, scientific studies have shown that people who undergo a successful preemptive kidney transplant live a better life than those who are treated with dialysis, says the best nephrologist in Kolkata. Moreover, patients who have received a preemptive kidney transplant are more likely to live longer because a kidney from a donor functions for 8-20 years while the life expectancy of people on dialysis is about 5 years.
What are the Risks Associated with Dialysis
While dialysis can efficiently replace some of the lost functions of the kidney, people may experience the conditions listed below. However, not everyone will experience all these issues.
- Muscle cramps
- Low blood pressure
- Trouble sleeping
- Itchy skin
- Bone diseases
- Anaemia
- High blood pressure
- High potassium levels
- Amyloidosis
- Inflammation of the membrane around the heart
- Depression
Who does not Qualify as a Recipient of Preemptive Kidney Transplant
If you have any of the following conditions, consult a nephrology doctor near you. He will decide whether you can have a preemptive kidney transplant or not.
- Have an infection that keeps coming back
- Recently had or currently having cancer
- Are not physically fit to undergo surgery
- Are obese
- Have poor function status
- Exposed to drug or alcohol abuse
- Have mental health issues that cannot be managed
- Have dementia
- Finding it difficult to remember having medicine
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