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The kidneys are vital organs of our bodies. When the kidneys function correctly, they help a person to lead a healthy life. The primary purpose of kidneys is to clean the blood and transform the waste into urine. Today, kidney (renal) failure has emerged as a severe problem caused by various medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, infections, stones, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors (alcohol, tobacco abuse, poor diet). The doctor may suggest a kidney transplant when any of your kidneys fail to function, needing a transplant of the kidney.
One of the standard transplant procedures is ABO incompatible kidney transplantation wherein a donor's blood need not match the recipient's blood, and any donor can donate a kidney to any recipient.
Visit a top multispecialty hospital if you need a renal transplant in Old Airport Road.
ABO Incompatible Kidney Transplant
An ABO-incompatible transplant procedure is a viable option for patients who don’t have compatible blood group donors in the family. It is possible even if the kidney donor's blood type is incompatible with the receiver's blood type. Earlier, an incompatible kidney transplant was not possible because the reaction of the antibodies in the blood would lead to rejection of the transplant. Thus, the only option was the compatibility of ABO blood types between the recipient and donor.
With the advancement of medical science, the ABOi transplant has become a reality and the recipient does not need to wait for a matched cadaver (deceased) donation the transplantation. This process has increased the possibility of saving a patient's life suffering from kidney failure. As blood antibodies can attack the kidney of the recipient in this procedure, doctors use special treatments called desensitization where they remove or reduce the blood antibodies that could attack the kidney and lead to rejection.
Who Can Be a Donor for ABOi Living Donor Kidney Transplant?
The donor in an ABOi Living Donor Transplant can be:
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Living Related Donors (LRD) such as parents, siblings, and children.
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Living emotionally Related (LUR) includes spouses and friends.
Advantages of the ABO Incompatible Renal Transplant
There are many advantages of ABO incompatible transplant procedures. Some of these advantages are:
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Shorter Waiting Period
The recipient does not need to wait longer for ABO incompatible transplant. Once the donor is ready, transplantation is possible.
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No Immunological Barrier
There is no immunological barrier in ABO-incompatible transplants.
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Success Rate
There are no differences in the success rate between ABO-compatible and ABO-incompatible transplants. The success rate of both procedures is about 90-93%.
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Helpful in the Advanced Stages
Since transplantation is possible even with the donor of a mismatched blood group, the recipient can expect the kidney from a donor of an incompatible donor. It helps save a recipient's life, even in the advanced stages of kidney failure.
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No Donor Limitations
In ABO incompatible transplant, any donor can donate the kidney to any recipient, and this kidney transplant procedure has no barrier to donating or receiving the kidney. However, in a compatible transplant, only the donor of the same blood group as the recipient could donate the kidney.
How an ABO Incompatible Transplant is Performed?
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Pre Procedure Planning Before Transplant
The nephrologist will run different blood and imaging tests and will examine for other diseases. Before the ABO kidney transplant, the doctor will extract antibodies from the blood. After that, antibodies are injected into your body to protect you against infections.
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The Procedure
The surgeon will administer general anaesthesia and make you unconscious. The surgical team at Manipal Hospitals will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level. The surgeon will make an incision in one side of your abdomen, and the new kidney will be implanted. The blood vessels of the new kidney are connected to the blood veins, and the ureter is also connected to the bladder of the new kidney.
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After the Procedure – Route to Recovery
The healthcare team will monitor your health in the intensive care unit. Although the new kidney allows urine to pass in right away after the surgery, interim dialysis may be necessary for a few days to help the new kidney to adjust the body. The doctor will prescribe medications to protect your new kidney from any possible infections. If everything remains normal, the doctor will discharge you from the hospital after a few days.
Risks Involved
Since every treatment procedure may have advantages and risks, ABO incompatible transplant is also not risk-free. Some risks involved in this process are
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Low blood pressure.
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Bleeding during surgery.
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Infection.
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Rejection.
Consult a nephrologist in Old Airport Road if you require ABO Incompatible kidney transplant.
FAQs
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How safe is ABO incompatible risk transplant?
To reduce the risks associated with the surgery, you receive treatment before, after, and during the surgery to reduce the antibody levels in your blood.
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What is the success rate of ABO incompatible transplants in India?
The recorded success rate of this surgical procedure is around 93-94%.
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Which kidney is easier to transplant?
The left kidney is easier to transplant due to the length of the left renal vein, which helps in venous anastomosis.
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