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Kidney Transplant
Overview When an individual's kidneys fail, three treatment options are available: hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation. Many patients feel that a successful kidney transplant provides a better quality of life because it allows greater freedom and often is associated with increased energy levels and less restricted diet. There are two types of kidney transplants, one comes from a kidney transplant and the other comes from a donor who may have died. There are advantages of receiving a kidney from a living donor due to the higher success rate. Locating a donor is difficult because the donor must be perfectly healthy and be a complete match to you. The kidney transplant operation involves an incision or cut on the lower part of the abdomen to connect your blood vessels to the new kidney and the ureter of the new kidney to your bladder. The operation usually takes about three hours. Recovery takes approximately one to three weeks. Following surgery you will have to be closely monitored and have your medications adjusted. The most important complication that may occur after transplant is rejection of the kidney. the body's immune system guards against attack by all foreign matter, such as bacteria. This defense system may recognize tissue transplanted from someone else as foreign and act to combat the "invasion." You will be provided with anti-rejection medications to assist in alleviating this occurrence.
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