Kidney Transplant Recovery and Follow-Up | Kidney Transplant Surgeons in India
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure to place a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person whose kidneys no longer function properly. Patients with kidney failure usually undergo a treatment called dialysis. This treatment mechanically filters waste that builds up in the bloodstream when the kidneys stop working. Some patients may qualify for a kidney transplant. In this procedure, one or both kidneys are replaced with donor kidneys from a living or a deceased person.
Kidney transplant recovery normally takes four to five days and most recipients can return to work and other normal activities within eight weeks after the transplant. Top kidney transplant surgeons in India helps in fast recovery. They must avoid lifting heavy objects or intense exercise until the wound is healed. Frequent postoperative checkups are required as the patient continues recovering.
During the duration of the hospital stay, patients are kept in a specialized transplant care area. In rare cases, patients may require a short stay in intensive care before being moved to the transplant area. Before discharge, they are thoroughly briefed about the medications, lab tests, and follow-up care.
As the patients embark on an exciting new journey of life after the kidney transplant, they are expected to take good care of the implanted organ till they fully recover from the surgery. They follow the instructions of the surgeon, keep lab and doctor appointments, and call the transplant coordinator if there are any post-surgery problems.
Patient care continues after they leave the hospital. The kidney transplant team keeps monitoring their recovery progress and is expected to address their queries efficiently. After discharge from the hospital, a post-transplant coordinator become their primary contact for long-term follow-up care.
During the first year after the kidney transplant, the patient has to consult the kidney transplant team on weekly basis and as the condition stabilizes, he can return to the personal nephrologist for further care. The patient is expected to visit the transplant team every year, close to the anniversary of the transplant. The team of doctors and the support staff will fully assess the progress and discuss any health concerns that the patient may have.
The first clinic appointment after the kidney transplant is very important. The patient must make notes of the meeting with the nephrologist and keep the clinic’s phone number handy in case he needs to speak with a transplant coordinator. Lab tests are conducted each time the patient returns to the clinic for follow-up care to ensure the transplanted kidney is functioning properly.
Kidney transplant patients are required to take certain immunosuppression medications for the rest of their lives to help prevent transplant rejection. They need to be careful of infections. The transplant suggests if any dosage changes are required. Not following the medication regime can result in complications or loss of the organ. Any side effects must be reported to the doctor immediately.
If you are looking for top kidney transplant surgeons in India, a detailed online search will give you several results including patients’ testimonials and reviews.