Choosing between Dialysis and a Kidney Transplant
Dr. Ajay Kher, Director and Senior Consultant Nephrology, MBBS (AIIMS), FASN, Epitome Kidney Urology Institute, New Friends Colony, New Delhi
Last Updated: Dec 26, 2022, 20:36 IST5 min
Prefer us on Google
Advertisement
- Increase your life expectancy: Patients with kidney disease can live many years with dialysis however they are likely to live longer with a transplant. If we look at a 100 patients who start dialysis or transplant then at 10 years only 20 of them are still alive on dialysis while 80 of them are still alive with a transplant.
- Improve quality of life: On dialysis there are many restrictions with regards to food and water intake. In addition, there are restrictions with regard to travel as it has to be planned around dialysis schedule or have to plan dialysis at the travel destination. With transplant most of these issues disappear. Also the overall well being that a person feels is better with a transplant than on dialysis.
- Lower cost of treatment: With dialysis the monthly cost is around Rs 30-50,000 and will continue for the lifetime. With transplant there is a onetime large cost of the transplant but after a few months the cost is only of the medicines which average around Rs 5-10,000 per month. Hence, over the next few years, transplant is also cheaper than dialysis.
There"s no doubt about it: Getting a kidney transplant requires careful consideration. If you have the right information, it makes your decision that much easier. Considering the benefits of a successful kidney transplant (such as longer life expectancy) and the procedure"s high success rates, one thing"s for sure: Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been on dialysis for years, a transplant should be considered as an option and explored with your nephrologist.
Patients dealing with chronic kidney disease often begin dialysis before going through an evaluation to determine if they qualify for a kidney transplant. And sometimes, patients stay on dialysis not ever knowing that a new kidney may be a better option. Getting the right information about your options is key to not only your quality of life but also to your survival.
Dialysis, though a life-saving therapy, is a less-than-perfect option to treat kidney failure. The longer a patient stays on dialysis, the longer they are exposed to the chronic effects of kidney failure and dialysis, including issues such as heart problems, hardening arteries, chronic inflammation, and infections.
Once a patient is diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, they should follow up regularly with a nephrologist who should be proactive, pointing them toward a transplant evaluation once their kidney function declines to about 20 to 25 percent. It is important to know that you do not have to do dialysis before you get a kidney transplant. Patients who receive a new kidney before starting or after a short period of dialysis have better outcomes than patients who have been on dialysis for a long time. Patients who have spent no or minimal time on dialysis tend to be healthier and stronger, in part because their disease hasn"t progressed, but also because dialysis is hard on the body. Kidney transplants are associated with several considerable benefits compared to dialysis. These include greater life expectancy, better overall health, and improved quality of life – including freedom from the severe restrictions of dialysis treatments.
The pages slugged ‘Brand Connect’ are equivalent to advertisements and are not written and produced by Forbes India journalists.
First Published: Dec 26, 2022, 20:36
Subscribe Now- Home /
- Brand-connect /
- Choosing-between-dialysis-and-a-kidney-transplant
Latest News
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement