A successful kidney transplant is the best treatment for Kidney failure, but in India, this was only the case for adults and not always for kids. Kidney transplantation in children is still unknown in India.
Awareness about pediatric kidney transplantation in India is less compared to other countries because some areas in India have limited access to quality healthcare facilities; therefore there is a lack of information about advanced medical services. In India, the availability of deceased donors is limited, and not all children can find suitable living donors.
While difficult problems remain, India has made incredible progress and expects even more developments in the future of pediatric kidney transplantation. There are many best kidney transplant hospitals in India with top kidney specialists.
Why Kidney transplantation in children?
Pediatric kidney transplantation offers various benefits, including better health overall, more independence, and a higher quality of life for children. Children who receive a kidney transplant exhibit enhanced growth and development. They can resume a more normal lifestyle after the transplantation.
As the science of pediatric kidney transplantation continues to advance, children today have excellent immunosuppression and have better transplant results than adults.
India has made major advances in immunosuppression, surgical practices, medical management, enhanced donor selection, and post-operative care. Today pediatric kidney transplants in younger children experience better long-term graft survival than adults!
Symptoms of pediatric kidney disease
Pediatric kidney disorders can have a wide range of symptoms depending on the condition and some common symptoms of pediatric kidney disorders are:
- Change in frequency and color of Urine
- Fatigue and weakness
- Weight loss
- High Blood Pressure
- Stagnant growth
It is important to recognize children with end-stage kidney disease as early as possible to enhance their treatment options prevent further complications and promote better kidney health.
What is Pediatric kidney transplantation?
A pediatric kidney transplant is a challenging and life-altering surgery in which a child with end-stage kidney disease receives a healthy kidney from a donor, either alive or deceased. The replacement of the non-functioning or severely damaged kidneys in the child with a healthy kidney can perform the essential functions of filtering waste products and excess liquids from the blood and allow children to grow more normally.
This process requires a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including pediatric nephrologists, transplant surgeons, and other experts, to provide the best possible care for the child.
A few key steps involved in pediatric kidney transplantation:
- Evaluation before transplant: This assessment involves several tests to evaluate the child’s overall health and suitability as a kidney donor.
- Sources of organs:
Cadaveric Kidney- The waiting time for this type of kidney is long and it usually has a half-life of 5-7 years.
Living donor Kidney– There is no waiting time for this type of kidney and it has a half-life of 25 years.
- Transplantation Surgery: In this stage, the healthy kidney from the donor is placed into the child’s lower abdomen.
- Immunosuppression: To prevent the body from rejecting the donated kidney, the child must take immunosuppressive drugs after the transplant. These drugs aid in preventing the body from attacking the new kidney as a foreign item and helping it become part of the body.
- Post-operative care: To ensure the long-term success of the transplant and the child’s overall well-being, regular follow-up schedules, and continuous treatment are essential.
Challenges and Risks
Pediatric kidney transplantation comes with its own set of challenges and risks such as:
- Availability of organs: Kidney transplant waiting lists are longer because the number of deceased donors is relatively less compared to the number of children in need of kidney transplants.
- Suitable donor: Finding suitable donors is challenging due to issues like blood type or tissue matching.
- Surgical issues: The transplant carries risks, including blood loss, infection, and damage to neighboring organs.
- Rejection of the Transplanted Kidney: The child’s immune system may treat the transplanted kidney as a foreign object and try to reject it.
- Less Compliance with Medicines: Adherence to immunosuppressive drugs over a long period can be challenging. Organ rejection risk may increase with missed doses or treatment interruption.
- Potential Need for Re-transplantation: In certain situations, the transplanted kidney may eventually cease to function at its best, necessitating another transplant.
Despite the challenges and risks involved, Pediatric Kidney Transplantation has the power to revolutionize a child’s life, restoring their health, and giving them the freedom to face an optimistic future. Numerous young lives have been saved and significantly improved because of the noble act of organ donation and the commitment of talented medical doctors. By raising awareness about pediatric kidney transplantation, we can encourage more individuals to become organ donors, opening the way for a healthier and more compassionate world.
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