Please Read- Kidney transplant: An effective medical treatment..

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Kidney transplant is a procedure wherein a person whose own kidneys have failed, receives a new kidney to perform its regular functioning. The failure of both kidneys is known as End Stage Kidney Disease, ESKD or End Stage Renal Disease, ESRD.
At least five percent of the adult population in Nigeria have some form of kidney damage, and every year millions die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases linked to chronic kidney diseases.
Common causes
Common causes include inflammatory diseases of the kidney, infections, obstruction in the urinary tract and
inherited disorders like polycystic kidney disease.
The first consequence of undetected chronic kidney diseases is the risk of developing progressive loss of kidney function leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant which is very expensive.
Most forms of kidney disease are treatable.  Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse, and can prevent the need for dialysis or transplant.
Living Donor Transplant
Since an individual needs only one healthy kidney to live, a person with two  healthy kidneys can donate one kidney to someone whose kidneys have failed.  This is called a living donor transplant.
A living donor can be a family member, a friend, or a near one. Before the transplant, both recipient and the living donor need to make sure there is a good match and that both are healthy enough for the surgery.
Deceased Donor Transplant
One can also receive a kidney from someone who has just died. This is called a deceased donor (or cadaveric) transplant. Before being there in waiting list for a deceased donor transplant, recipient has to go through some tests. These tests help make sure that the deceased’s kidney is a good match for the recipient and that the recipient is healthy enough for the surgery.
Candidates for kidney transplant
People with 90-95 percent kidney failure are eligible for ESRD treatment, of which kidney transplant is suggested to those who suffer from diabetes and other allied conditions. People with serious heart disease and who have suffered from cancer are not usually considered for  kidney transplantation. There is no restriction on age but it is dependent on the overall health of the patient.
High cost, shortage of kidneys and perennially long waiting lists compel doctors to advise transplantation selectively.
How it is done
Like any other surgery the patient is administered general anesthesia,in some cases it may be local anesthesia as well, to lessen the impact and pain of the surgery. The surgeon makes a cut in the lower belly and places the new kidney and the artery and veins are connected. As soon as the blood starts passing through the kidney, urine production starts.
Kidney transplant surgery usually takes 4-5 hours and the rehabilitation time is normally 7-10 days in a hospital after which the patient is discharged and put on a follow up plan with the doctor. Usually, the recovery period is close to six months.
Risks:  Kidney transplantation entails risks similar to any other major procedure / surgery. They include development of blood clots, excessive bleeding,  infection, failure or rejection of donated kidney and side effects of anti-rejection medication among others. After successful transplantation both donor and the recipient need special care and monitoring, post transplantation.
Side effects of medication
High Blood Pressure, diabetes,  bone thinning, increased risk of skin cancer and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, infection, puffiness and weight gain.

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