Kidney transplantation is a life-saving surgical procedure that replaces a failed or diseased kidney with a healthy donor kidney. It’s considered the gold-standard treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), offering patients:
✔ Better long-term survival than dialysis
✔ Improved quality of life
✔ Freedom from dialysis restrictions
Who is a Candidate?
Ideal candidates include those with:
ESRD requiring dialysis
Adequate overall health for major surgery
Commitment to lifelong medication adherence
Types of Kidney Donors
Living Donors (typically family members or altruistic donors)
Deceased Donors (brain-dead individuals)
The Transplantation Process
Evaluation Phase (2-6 months):
Blood tests, tissue typing, and compatibility matching
Comprehensive health assessments
Surgery (3-4 hours):
Donor kidney placed in the lower abdomen
Blood vessels and ureter connected
Hospital Recovery (5-7 days):
Monitoring for immediate complications
Post-Transplant Care:
Lifelong immunosuppressant medications
Regular follow-up appointments
Key Advantages Over Dialysis
✅ 3x better 5-year survival rate
✅ No dietary fluid restrictions
✅ Restored energy levels
✅ Fewer hospital visits
Post-Transplant Care Essentials
Take immunosuppressants exactly as prescribed
Monitor blood pressure daily
Avoid NSAIDs and grapefruit
Attend all follow-up lab tests
Practice infection prevention
Potential Complications
⚠ Acute/Chronic Rejection (15-20% of cases)
⚠ Infections (due to immunosuppression)
⚠ Medication side effects (e.g., diabetes, bone thinning)
Life After Transplant
Most recipients can:
✔ Return to work within 2-3 months
✔ Exercise moderately after full recovery
✔ Travel freely with proper planning
✔ Enjoy near-normal diets
Dr. Sara Keshtkari is a distinguished nephrologist in Tehran, specializing in kidney diseases and hypertension, with extensive expertise in dialysis […]
Dr. Babak Javanmard is a distinguished urologist and kidney transplant surgeon in Tehran, renowned for his expertise in complex urological surgeries and renal transplantation. […]
Professor Nasser Simforoosh is a world-renowned urologist and academic leader in Iran, serving as Full Professor of Urology at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical […]
