Kidneys are a very important organ of the human body. The main work of this organ is to extract waste and manage the body’s fluids. Nowadays, kidney related issues are becoming very common, including kidney infection and kidney cysts. These are some of the common issues, additionally, kidney failure is also becoming a very serious problem worldwide. It occurs when the kidneys lose most of their ability to filter waste and maintain fluid balance. Some of the early symptoms of kidney failure include metal, fatigue, nausea, swelling, and many more. Kidney failure can be treated by performing either kidney transplant or kidney dialysis. Kidney transplant is a long term treatment option for severe conditions. But many patients have a major concern regarding the kidney transplant waiting time in India. In this blog, we will talk more about the waiting time for the transplant in India and for foreigners.
What is Kidney Transplant?
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure used to treat end-stage kidney disease by replacing the failed kidney with a healthy donor kidney. In this the damaged kidney is replaced with a new healthy kidney which has been donated by another person. There are two different types of donors: Living Donor and Deceased Donor.
Living Donor Transplant
The meaning of living donor is in the name only, someone who is still alive and healthy and also has healthy kidneys. Living donors are usually close relatives such as parents, siblings, or spouses. Unrelated donors may donate only after strict legal approval. This transplant has more success rate and has more advantages, and also has a lower rate of rejection of the kidney. The donor must be aged more than 18 and should not have any major medical conditions. The donor is also required to pass the medical evaluation.
Deceased Donor Transplant
In this, the kidney comes from deceased donor, meaning someone who has just died and has healthy kidneys. People register themselves as a donor while they are alive. If the patient had not registered themself as a donor beforehand, the family members of the deceased can give the permission for donation.
Registration Process for Kidney Transplant in India
The procedure to get a kidney transplant is different from other transplants. Here, the patient needs to register themselves. In India, this process is managed by the NOTTO. The process to register is mentioned below:
- Medical Evaluation: Doctors conduct some tests which tell the doctor if the patient is fit enough to go through the surgery.
- Compatibility Testing: The doctor checks the blood group and tissue compatibility between the donor and the recipient patient.
- Medical Records: The patient must submit their medical reports and medical history along with the proper documentation. Only after the approval of this you can enter the Kidney Transplant Waiting List.
Kidney Transplant Waiting List in India
Kidney transplant can be life saving for patients who are in the advanced stage of kidney disease. But, finding the right kidney that matches the patient depends on several factors. This process sometimes takes a long time. To maintain fairness, a kidney transplant wait list is introduced. This system also brings transparency and also makes the process more efficient. This is managed by NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization) at the national level with the support from regional (ROTTO) and state (SOTTO) units. The wait list follows an algorithm which shows medical urgency, blood type compatibility, organ size and tissue matching. To enter the wait list you need to register beforehand. The process of registration is mentioned above.
The kidney transplant waitlist does not follow the first come, first server approach. They use an algorithm which makes the decision after looking into multiple factors and allocates the organ accordingly. Some of these factors are:
- Medical Urgency
- Compatibility between the Donor and the Receiver
- For how long has the patient been waiting
- Geographical Location
The kidney transplant surgeons in India and the kidney transplant hospitals in India play a major role. They help the patients active on the waitlist and make them update their situation like medical records, health changes and recommend timely transplant. Some of the best hospitals in India and their best surgeons are mentioned below:
- Apollo Hospital, New Delhi – Dr. Sandeep Guleria
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Gurugram – Dr. Sunil Prakash
- MIOT International, Chennai – Dr. A. Kanakaraj
India is one of the best countries for kidney transplant for foreigners. Many foreigners come to India for kidney transplant as India is more affordable then other countries like US, UK or Germany.
Average Waiting Time for Kidney Transplant in India
Organs are allocated based on medical priority, compatibility, and waiting time using a national allocation system. But if the algorithm decides that you are not in a serious need of transplant it will put you on hold. But the algorithm only checks if the donor is available or not. There are other things that also matter like patient and donor blood type, the patient’s overall health, regional disparities, etc.
Registering at multiple centers may also increase the chances of getting a suitable donor, but it does not always do so. This will increase the search area and there is a chance that your condition can be prioritized at another center. It also depends on the patients to make the right decision which will minimize their waiting period.
The average waiting time for getting a kidney transplant in India depends on many factors. Waiting time can range from a few months to several years depending on donor availability, blood group, and region.
Living Donor vs Deceased Donor: Waiting Time Differences
The patients have the option to choose between living donor and deceased donor. Some patients explore both the options and select the suitable one. Both the donors have their own advantages.
Living Donor Kidney Transplant
This transplant is done when the donor is living and willingly donates their kidney to the patient with kidney failure. A human body has 2 kidneys, but it is still manageable with one kidney to have a functional life. In this case, the donor can be anyone, it doesn’t matter if the person is related to you or not. Some benefits of living donor kidney transplant are mentioned below:
- Shorter Waiting Time: If the patient has a person who is willing to donate one of their kidneys, it can avoid years of waiting time.
- High Success Rate & Longevity: Kidneys from living donors have a high success rate and have a long life around 15 to 20 years.
- Immediate Action: In many cases, the transplanted kidney begins working soon after surgery, though some may take several days.
- Stronger Compatibility: If the living donor is someone from the family and has a similar DNA. This will reduce the risk of rejection.
Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant
In this the kidneys are taken from the body of the person who recently has died, just after the death of the brain. Even after the brain dies some organs are still functioning. These organs are donated with the consent of the deceased before their death or by the permission of their family. These kidneys are allocated to the patients who are in the waiting list. Deceased donors play a very important role in providing organs to the patients who have no suitable living organ donor. Some benefits of deceased donor are mentioned below:
- Expands the Donor Pool: In this the patients with no living donors can also get a suitable donor.
- Fair Distribution: Organs are not allocated by the first come, first server procedure. They are allocated by medical urgency and compatibility. This makes it fair for every patient. This gives the chance to every patient to get the donor regardless of their connection.
When Do You Need Kidney Transplant?
If your kidneys are working less than 15%, then you may have ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease). This is the major sign that you need a kidney transplant, as this is a permanent situation. Some of the common signs that you need a kidney transplant are:
- Repeated Urinary Infection
- Kidney failure because of diabetes and high blood pressure
- High dependence on dialysis
- Building up of toxic
- Polycystic Kidney Diseases which cause cysts.
Cost of Kidney Transplant in India
The cost of kidney transplant in India is relatively less than in other countries. In India, the cost ranges from 5,00,00 to 15,00,000 (approx $5500 to $18000). This amount covers the entire procedure, but follows ups, lifelong medications, and other complications’ treatment costs are not included in this cost. Things that affect the cost of kidney transplant in India are:
- Availability of the donor
- Patients Condition
- Type of Transplant
- Location, classification and facilities provided by the hospital
- Duration of stay at the hospital
- Surgeon and doctor fees
Conclusion
In India the kidney transplant waiting time can depend on many factors. Factors like medical urgency, donor availability, compatibility, and blood group. Because of these factors it might take you a few months or sometimes years to get done with your kidney transplant. To reduce the delay you can also explore the possibility of a living donor.