Are you suffering from kidney failure? Looking for more options to deal with kidney failure? Then, this blog is for you which will guide you through the different procedures.
Kidneys are one of the most important organs in our body. It has innumerable functions. It not only balances the body fluids but also regulates the blood pressure.
It controls the production of red blood cells and helps to remove waste products from the body. Nephrons are the most important part of the kidney as they help to pass out waste products from filtered blood.
Kidney failure is a severe medical condition affecting millions of people worldwide. The main advanced treatment options include dialysis and transplantation. Karetrip is here to help you walk through both the procedures.
Kidney Transplantation and Dialysis: What is the difference?
| Aspect Kidney | Transplant | Dialysis |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Surgical procedure to replace a failed kidney with a donor kidney | Treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine |
| Purpose | To cure kidney failure and restore normal kidney function | To manage kidney failure by removing waste, fluids, and electrolytes |
| Duration | One-time surgical procedure | Requires regular sessions (e.g., multiple times per week) |
| Cure | Yes, if successful, it can cure kidney failure | No, it only manages the symptoms and maintains kidney function |
| Effectiveness | Can significantly improve quality of life and longevity | Increases survival chances, but ongoing treatment is necessary |
| Time Requirement | Surgery and recovery period | Varies: 4-5 hours per session, some types may take up to 10 hours |
| In Case of Failure | Another transplant or return to dialysis | Continuous treatment is required, fallback if transplant fails |
| Commonly Affects | Suitable for patients eligible for surgery and with matching donor | Suitable for all kidney failure patients |
| Initial Detection | Performed when kidney failure is advanced and a suitable donor is found | Can start as soon as severe kidney failure is detected |
| Temporary vs Chronic | Aimed at curing chronic kidney failure | Manages both temporary and chronic kidney failure |
| Patient Demographics | Often considered for patients in good health suitable for surgery | Common among elderly and those with other conditions like diabetes |
| Main Kidney Function | Aims to restore normal kidney function permanently | Assists in performing the kidneys' waste removal function temporarily |
Symptoms
If you ever experience the following, then it is better to get a kidney health checkup done as these are the major symptoms experienced by people with Kidney failure.
- Fatigue at extreme levels
- Vomiting
- Oedema in the face, ankles and hands
- Metallic taste of food
- Muscle spasms
- Excess urination
- Difficulty concentrating and confusion
Types of Dialysis
Haemodialysis
Haemodialysis is a treatment to filter wastes and water from your blood. Haemodialysis helps to control blood pressure and balance important minerals, such as potassium, sodium, and calcium, in your blood.
In simple words it is a process of filtering the blood in patients whose kidneys are not working properly.
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
It can be done at home. It is also known as continuous therapy which uses the peritoneum as a natural filter to remove toxins from the body.
CAPD is a type of PD treatment that is performed without a machine, utilising a manual interaction called an exchange.
This cycle is generally performed 3 to 4 times each day, leaving arrangement in your abdomen overnight.
Each exchange requires roughly 30 minutes. In the middle between exchanges, you are separated from the tubing and can go on with your typical exercises until the following exchange.
Automated Peritoneal Dialysis
It is one of the most flexible methods where you use a machine called a cycler to fill and drain your belly. Automated peritoneal dialysis is normally finished at home and endorsed medicines are ordinarily more regularly than in-focus dialysis.
Thus, waste and poisons in your blood don't have as much chance to develop between medicines, passing on you more stimulated and prepared to handle every day.
PD is viewed as a delicate type of dialysis that involves the veins in the coating of your mid-region your peritoneum to filter waste from your blood. Chronic Kidney Disease is a severe condition and is usually categorized as 5 stages
Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3A, Stage 3B, Stage 4, Stage 5
Types of Kidney Transplant
- Pre-Emptive Kidney Transplant
A precautionary kidney transplant is a kidney relocation that happens before dialysis starts. Dialysis is a treatment that eliminates additional liquid and waste from the body when the kidneys fail to function.
Most kidney transfers are finished in individuals who are on dialysis because their kidneys don't function properly. Precautionary kidney relocation is believed to be the most ideal choice for end-stage kidney sickness.
- Living Donor Kidney Transplant
In this process a kidney from a living donor is removed into a recipient whose kidneys no longer function properly. To replace two failed kidneys only one donated kidney is needed.
- Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant
A deceased-donor kidney transplant is carried out when a kidney from a dead person is removed with the consent of the family or from a donor card and placed in a recipient whose kidneys have failed and no longer function properly and require kidney transplantation.
Advantages of Kidney Transplant
Most kidney transplant patients live longer and have a good quality of life with improved sex life and increased fertility. They have few restrictions on diets with higher energy levels. Compared to dialysis, kidney transplant has a lower risk of complications.
Advantages of Kidney Dialysis
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Dialysis helps the kidneys to function properly by removing waste and excess fluid from the body.
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It prevents the build-up of waste and toxins in the body thus maintaining safe levels of minerals in your body such as potassium, sodium, calcium and bicarbonate.
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It helps to control the blood pressure and greatly reduces the levels of urea.
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It is a continuous therapy and acts as natural kidneys.
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Dialysis is done well before your kidneys shut down to the point of causing life-threatening complications.
List of the Best Kidney Hospitals in India
Some of the best hospitals in India which offer Kidney transplants are as follows
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Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
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Manipal Hospital, Bangalore
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Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
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Fortis Hospital, Bangalore
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Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad
The information provided represents the views and opinions of Karetrip. It is crucial to conduct your own independent research before making any decisions regarding your healthcare journey. - Disclaimer