What Are the Risks and Success Rates of Kidney Transplants?
The human body is made of organs, blood, and muscles, and if any system stops functioning, life becomes challenging. Like this, if an individual is going through end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure, they go for a lifetime of dialysis or require immediate kidney transplant surgery. While it’s a highly successful treatment option, it’s essential to understand the risks and kidney transplant success rate involved.
If you know someone looking for a kidney transplant or who is going through the kidney transplant process, then it is essential to know the risks involved. Let’s explore this article further to get familiar with the success rate, how it works, and how a safe renal transplant can be done.
Kidney Transplant Statistics
- There are over 100,000 individuals who are waiting for a kidney transplant in the US.
- The global kidney transplant market size was estimated at $9.24 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $13.79 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.98%.
- In 2021, 24,000 kidney transplants were done. This includes 7,200 from living donors and 16,800 from deceased donors.
8 Common Risks Associated With Kidney Transplants
Though a kidney transplant is a major surgery to save life after kidney failure, there are several risks associated that make it challenging and fearful. Let’s see below few of the kidney transplant complications that an individual might suffer.
1] Kidney Rejection
Sometimes, a donor’s kidney doesn’t suit the recipient and thus leads to rejection of the kidney transplant. This may be because your immune system might see the new kidney as foreign and attack it. Here, immunosuppressive medications are given with regular monitoring to avoid early rejections.
2] Opportunistic Infections
Opportunistic infections are a common risk faced by kidney recipients, often due to immunosuppressive therapy. These infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that take advantage of the weakened immune system. This may lead to potentially life-threatening complications or infections. So, antibiotics are prescribed to reduce harmful bacteria and enhance the chances of recovery.
3] Spikes In Blood Sugar Level
There may be a rise in blood sugar level in the recipient’s body, and if a person has diabetes earlier, they have a higher chance of spikes in glucose level. So, monitoring and managing blood sugar levels by consultation with healthcare experts can reduce the risk and aid in faster recovery.
4] Nerve Damage
Surgery might cause nerve damage due to sharp instruments or mishandling. This can further lead to numbness, tingling, bleeding, or pain. While often temporary, some cases might require additional treatment by healthcare professionals.
5] Blood Clots Inside The Kidney Transplants
When the new kidney is replaced with the damaged one, it might lead to blood clots inside the kidney transplants due to surgical complexity, blood vessel connection, or infection. This can block the blood flow to the new kidney. Usually, blood thinners are applied to prevent these complications and recover faster.
6] Leakage From The Ureter
Sometimes, leakage from the ureter can happen if the connection between the transplanted kidney and bladder isn’t secure. So, this can lead to complications, and prompt treatment is important to repair the leak and prevent further issues.
7] Heart Problems
In some patients, certain heart problems are seen with the kidney transplant process due to the transplant surgery and immunosuppressive medications. Regular monitoring and management of cardiovascular health are crucial to minimize risks.
8] May Lead To Bleeding
During the surgery process of kidney transplantation, bleeding may happen, thus requiring a blood transfusion to replace the lost blood after a week. This may carry risks like fluid overhead and disease transmission. So, the healthcare team monitors closely to prevent and manage bleeding complications.
Know The Success Rates of Kidney Transplants
Before going for surgery, knowing the kidney transplant success rate is a major concern for many people. As per the American Journal of Transplantation of the 2020 annual reports, the following are the kidney transplant survival rate-
- For the living donor transplants, a 95% success rate was achieved in the first year, with 86-90% of patients surviving after 5 years. This 5-year survival rate is higher in people ages 18 to 35, at 97.8%.
- Most people who had kidney failure due to diabetes had the lowest 5-year survival rate compared to other causes, at 88.3%.
- For the deceased donor transplants, an 85-90% success rate is seen in the first year, with 75-85% of transplant recipients surviving after 5 years.
- Likewise, long-term patient survival after kidney transplant has a greater 10-year survival rate (around 90%) compared to deceased donor transplants (60-75%).
Key Factors Affecting Kidney Transplant Success
Kidney transplant surgery success all depends on the donors’ matching criteria, the patients’ health, and recovery. But there are certain factors that may affect kidney transplant success, as given below-
Donor Type- Knowing the donor’s health and fitness condition is the most important to avoid potential kidney transplant risks. This is because the matching criteria, like blood, age, immunity, etc., may sometimes not fit an individual’s body, which ultimately leads to failure or rejection.
Lifestyle– The kidney transplant survival rate depends on several factors. If the recipient has a healthy immune system, good medical history, and is living a healthy lifestyle, the chances of transplant success become higher.
Recipient Health Condition- The Health of the recipient is another crucial factor for the kidney transplant success rate. If the patient has a good immune system and is free from chronic diseases, the chances of success are greater. But if any health issues come that weaken the immune system, the chances of success decrease.
Post-Transplant Care- after a kidney transplant, recovery all depends on care and management. This includes proper lifestyles, diet and nutrition, regular check-ups, minimal exercise, and timely medications.
Wrap Up- Take Expert Guidance To Understand The Risks And Successes Of Kidney Transplants
A kidney transplant is challenging if you are unaware of the risks and successes of this process. Based on your health circumstances, the kidney transplant success rate, and medical evaluation, you can go for the kidney transplant and live a better life afterwards. You can consult with your expert guidance to determine the best course of treatment for your specific needs.
From the numerous online transplant helpdesks, Transplant Made Easy is the advanced platform offering innovative kidney transplant solutions with integrated features. Download the app to explore the platform and find the right donor for a hassle-free kidney transplant process!
FAQs- Risks and Success Rates Associated With Kidney Transplant
Q1. What is the kidney transplant success rate?
Kidney transplant statistics reveal that prevalent patients receiving dialysis who were on the waitlist for a kidney transplant decreased, in relative terms, by 31% from 2014 to 2021. This signifies that kidney transplant surgery is a highly successful procedure with excellent short-term and long-term outcomes. But overall recovery is based on proper care and management, like medications, nutrition intake, and lifestyle.
Q2. What are the long-term risks associated with a kidney transplant?
The long-term risks that are associated with a kidney transplant are as follows-
- Chronic rejections that cause graft failure
- Higher risks of certain cancers
- May cause risk to the heart
- Side effects due to long-term meditation
Q3. What are the top benefits of a kidney transplant?
The potential benefits of a kidney transplant include-
- Better quality of life
- Better patient survival after kidney transplant
- Improved kidney function
- Reduced dietary restrictions
- Better energy level and mobility
Q4. What are the 2 main risks associated with transplant patients?
Infection of specific body parts and organ rejection are the two major risks that kidney transplant patients often face.
Q5. Why is it necessary to know the risks and success rates of a kidney transplant?
A kidney transplant is a long-term surgery, and knowing the risk and success rates is important for optimal health performance after the procedure. This helps you make informed decisions, know potential outcomes, improve preparations, and enhance patient-provider communications.
Q6. How much time does it take to recover after a kidney transplant?
The kidney transplant recovery time depends on the patient’s body as if you have a strong immune system, the chances of success are higher compared to a lower immune system. Normally, it takes a couple of weeks for an uncomplicated post-operation, and it can take months in complicated cases.
Q7. How can modern technology ease the kidney transplant journey?
Modern technology plays a vital role in improving patient-centered or kidney transplantation solutions. Here is how it helps doctors, patients, or donors-
- Platforms like Transplant Make Easy help to establish a connection between donor, recipient, surgeon, and nephrologist.
- Organ Preservation and Matching are making it easy for patients and donors through more precise organ allocation.
- AI and machine learning help doctors make informed decisions and provide personalized patient care.
- Telemedicine and remote monitoring are making post-transplant care more accessible and convenient.
Q.8 Can I do a normal workout after a kidney transplant?
If you are willing to do a normal workout after a kidney transplant, it depends on your body’s response and expert consultations on exercise. However, you can start with light exercise like walking, yoga, or meditation at least after 12 weeks of surgery. However, it is always advised to consult your transplant nephrologist, as it varies from case to case.
