Kidney transplantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kidney Transplantation |
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| Other names | Renal transplantation |
| Specialty | {{#statements:P1995}} |
| ICD-10-PCS | OTY |
| ICD-9-CM | 55.6 |
| MeSH | D016030 |
| OPS-301 code | 5-555 |
| MedlinePlus | 003005 |
A kidney transplant is a surgery to place a healthy kidney from one person into the body of someone whose own kidneys have stopped working properly. This condition is called end-stage kidney disease. The new kidney can come from a living donor, who is a person who donates one of their two healthy kidneys, or a deceased donor, who is someone who has passed away and whose family agreed to donate their organs.
A kidney transplant is a serious operation, but it can greatly improve a person's health and quality of life. In 2018, over 95,000 kidney transplants were performed around the world.
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History of Kidney Transplants
For a long time, doctors dreamed of replacing unhealthy organs with healthy ones. The first attempts at kidney transplants were made in the 1930s, but they were not successful. The main problem was that the patient's body would "reject" the new kidney, meaning their immune system would attack it.
The first truly successful kidney transplant happened in 1954 in Boston. A team of doctors led by Joseph Murray performed the surgery on a man named Richard Herrick. He received a kidney from his identical twin brother, Ronald. Because they were twins, their bodies were a perfect match, and Richard's body did not reject the new kidney. For this amazing work, Dr. Murray later won a Nobel Prize.
This success, along with the development of special medicines in the 1960s to prevent rejection, made kidney transplants possible for many more people.
Why a Transplant Is Needed
Our kidneys are very important organs that act like filters to clean our blood. They remove waste products and extra water, which then leave the body as urine. When a person's kidneys stop working, a condition called end-stage kidney disease, harmful waste builds up in their body.
People with this condition often need a treatment called dialysis. During dialysis, a machine cleans the person's blood for them. While dialysis helps people stay alive, a kidney transplant can offer a much healthier and more active life.
Finding a Healthy Kidney
Before a transplant can happen, doctors do many tests on both the person receiving the kidney (the recipient) and the person donating it (the donor).
Checking the Recipient
Doctors make sure the recipient is healthy enough for a major surgery. They check their heart, lungs, and overall health to give the transplant the best chance of success.
Checking the Donor
A living donor must be very healthy. Doctors run tests to make sure the donor can live a full, healthy life with just one kidney. They also check to make sure the donor doesn't have any illnesses that could be passed to the recipient.
Making a Good Match
For a transplant to work well, the new kidney must be a good match for the recipient's body. Doctors check two main things:
- Blood Type: The donor and recipient should have compatible blood types, just like for a blood transfusion.
- Tissue Type: Doctors also look at something called tissue type (or HLA type). The closer the tissue match, the less likely the recipient's body is to reject the new kidney.
Where Do New Kidneys Come From?
There are two sources for a new kidney: a living donor or a deceased donor.
Living Donors
A healthy person has two kidneys but can live a normal life with just one. This means they can choose to donate one to someone in need. Donors are often family members, like a parent or sibling, but they can also be friends or even strangers who want to help.
Sometimes, special "kidney exchange" programs are set up. If a donor is not a match for their loved one, they can donate to a stranger. In return, their loved one gets a kidney from another donor in the program. This helps more people get the transplants they need.
Deceased Donors
A deceased donor is a person who has passed away but had chosen to donate their organs to save others' lives. Their family gives permission for the donation to happen. These donated kidneys can give someone a second chance at a healthy life. In some countries, all citizens are considered organ donors unless they choose not to be.
What Happens During the Surgery?
The transplant surgery usually takes about three hours. The surgeon places the new, healthy kidney in the lower part of the belly. The old, non-working kidneys are usually left where they are unless they are causing problems.
The surgeon then carefully connects the new kidney's artery and vein to blood vessels in the recipient's body. This allows blood to flow through the new kidney. Finally, the ureter (the tube that carries urine) from the new kidney is connected to the bladder. Soon after, the new kidney often starts working and making urine.
Life After a Kidney Transplant
Recovery in the Hospital
After the surgery, the recipient stays in the hospital for about a week. Doctors and nurses watch them closely to make sure the new kidney is working well. A new kidney from a living donor often starts working right away, while one from a deceased donor might take a little longer.
Preventing Rejection
The body's immune system is designed to attack anything it doesn't recognize, like germs. It might see the new kidney as a "stranger" and try to attack it. This is called rejection.
To prevent this, transplant patients must take special medicines called immunosuppressants every day for as long as they have the new kidney. These medicines quiet down the immune system so it doesn't harm the new organ. It is very important to take these medicines exactly as the doctor orders.
A Healthier Future
A kidney transplant can be life-changing. People who receive a new kidney generally live 10 to 15 years longer than if they had stayed on dialysis. They often have more energy, can eat a wider variety of foods, and can return to school, work, and hobbies they enjoy.
Several professional athletes have even returned to their sports after a kidney transplant, including basketball players Sean Elliott and Alonzo Mourning.
Notable People with Kidney Transplants
- Selena Gomez (born 1992), American singer and actress, had a transplant in 2017.
- Sarah Hyland (born 1990), American actress, had her first transplant in 2012.
- George Lopez (born 1961), American comedian and actor, had a transplant in 2005.
- Tracy Morgan (born 1968), American comedian and actor, had a transplant in 2010.
- Sean Elliott (born 1968), American basketball player, had a transplant in 1999.
- Alonzo Mourning (born 1970), American basketball player, had a transplant in 2003.
See also
- Artificial kidney
- Liver transplantation
- Organ transplantation
