Kidney transplantation

Procedure description

According to statistics, kidney transplantation is the most frequently performed transplant surgery worldwide, accounting for about 50% of all transplant procedures.

The key requirement for a successful kidney transplant is donor-recipient compatibility. A series of tests is conducted before the transplant to determine compatibility based on blood type and tissue type.

The five-year survival rate for patients undergoing kidney transplantation from a deceased donor is 88% and from a living donor — 94%.

Features of the procedure in leading global clinics

A unique aspect of kidney transplantation in top clinics is the ability to use a graft from a living donor. The quality of the biological material significantly affects the success of the transplant.

Before the transplantation, recipients may undergo hemodialysis to stabilize their condition. Living donor allografts tend to have better outcomes if the artificial kidney machine has been used for a short period of time.

In cases where donor and recipient blood types are incompatible and time is insufficient to wait for a compatible donor, doctors in leading kidney transplant countries perform special organ preparation procedures. This involves washing out antibodies to reduce the risk of rejection.

Advanced European clinics use the Da Vinci robotic system for kidney transplantation. This system allows surgeries to be performed through minimally invasive access while eliminating abrupt movements by the surgeon’s hands.

Living-donor kidney transplantation is one of the key areas of transplant medicine in India, where this practice is developing rapidly alongside established industry leaders. For more on this, read our article «New Destinations in Medical Travel: What to Choose — UAE, South Korea, India, or China?».