Kidney transplant and Dialysis procedures appropriate for various kidney failure patients. This disease also called stage 5 chronic kidney diseases, kidney failure, and end stage kidney disease. When kidneys are not functioning properly for the long term then waste products, electrolytes such as potassium, phosphorus, and acids with fluid accumulate in the blood. This article discovers kidney transplant vs dialysis and their advantages and disadvantages.
Choosing outcome between dialysis and kidney transplant can be challenging. The choice is not an easy one and it depends on different factors.
What is Dialysis?
Kidney Dialysis treatment is used for the removal of excess water, waste, and salt from the blood. It is carried out for those patients in whom the working capacity of the kidneys has become impaired. When kidneys lose about 85-90% of their functional capacity with a GFR (glomerular filtration rate) of less than 15, it becomes inducement for dialysis.
Kidney failure cannot be permanently cured by dialysis, but it helps the patient’s body to maintain balance and prolong life for the kidneys. Generally speaking, the life of a dialysis patient may be anywhere from 5 to 10 years at most. In addition, it regulates the safe concentrations of certain compounds in blood potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate.
What is Hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis is a medical procedure in which a machine filters blood from outside the body. Patients’ blood is passed through a dialyzer, a specialized filter, during this treatment. Clean blood is returned to the body after this filter removes extra salt, water, and trash.
Hemodialysis is frequently carried out in a dialysis facility or hospital. Additionally, the patient must spend three to five hours at a period, three times a week, attached to the machine.
Some pros and cons of hemodialysis, include:
Pros:
- Hemodialysis can efficiently remove waste and fluid from the blood.
- It helps to improve the long life of kidneys.
- Hemodialysis can be continued to live at home while receiving treatment.
Cons:
- Hemodialysis can be essential for a patient to travel to the hospital for treatment, which can be time consuming and inconvenient.
- Hemodialysis can cause some side effects like low blood pressure, fatigue and cramping.
What is Peritoneal Dialysis?
Peritoneal Dialysis is a procedure which uses lining in the abdomen to filter the blood and also called peritoneum. During the treatment a fluid called dialysate is initiated into the abdomen through a tiny tube.
After absorbing extra water, waste and salt from the blood and drains it out from the body. Peritoneal Dialysis can be performed at home and requires doing several exchanges of the dialysate each day.
Some pros and cons are:
Pros:
- Peritoneal Dialysis can be performed at home with
- It is more convenient for patients than hemodialysis
- It doesn’t require the use of needles which can be advantageous for some patients.
Cons:
- Peritoneal Dialysis can be difficult in obese patients and who have a past history of abdominal surgeries.
- Use of catheter in peritoneal dialysis can be a source of infection.
What is Kidney Transplant?
Kidney transplant surgery is one of the most common procedures to save the life of people who are suffering from renal insufficiency. It can increase longevity the lifespan of the kidney and enhance the quality of life.
However, it is not a satisfactory treatment option for every person who is dealing with kidney failure. If somebody is eligible to transplant the kidney that person must fulfill specific medical requirements and have better overall health.
Here are mentioned 2 main types of kidney transplantation:
- Living-donor Transplantation: The donor is generally a member from family or recipient’s close friend.
- Deceased-donor Transplantation: The donor who has died and whose family has agreed to donate the organs.
Here are mentioned kidney transplantation pros and cons which are:
Pros:
- Kidney transplantation can make the longer life of people who have kidney failure.
- It can stop a patient’s dialysis procedure and return to a more normal lifestyle.
- Kidney transplant can also be more efficient in removing the waste and fluid from the blood than dialysis.
Cons:
- Kidney transplant procedure can be risky and complex and needs careful medical administration before and after the transplant.
- It might be difficult to find a suitable kidney donor, and they are recurrently on the transplant waiting list.
- Surgery-related risks and consequences include infection, bleeding, and transplant rejection.
Which is the Best Treatment Approach?
Kidney transplant is generally examined as a better treatment approach for many people who have kidney failure compared to dialysis. Transplant provides various benefits over dialysis, including:
- Improved the life quality
- Longer life after kidney transplant
- Better functionality of the kidney
- Less reliant on treatment schedules
Conclusion
Kidney transplant and dialysis treatment strategy can be determined by several criteria, including the patient’s health, age, cause of kidney disease, and consumes alcohol or not. Others can consider such as finding a suitable donor, financial situation, and willingness to confront the risk.
