Dialysis or kidney transplant? Which one is better? Choosing between dialysis and a kidney transplant can be a difficult decision for people suffering from kidney disorders such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and severe kidney failure. The choice is not a straightforward one and it depends on various factors. To make an informed decision, it’s essential to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option. To gain a more comprehensive understanding, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of these two widely popular treatment approaches.
Dialysis is typically recommended for people with kidney failure, a condition in which the kidneys lose about 85 to 90 percent of the kidney function and have a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 15. Dialysis is not a cure for kidney failure, but it can help to keep the patient’s body in balance and prolong their life. Dialysis life expectancy is estimated to be 5 to 10 years, but in occasional cases, people have lived for 20 to 30 years.
It is a medical treatment that is used to remove excess waste, salt, and water from the blood in people whose kidneys are not functioning properly. It also helps in keeping a safe level of certain chemicals in the blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate and also keeping Blood Pressure under control. There are two main types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Hemodialysis is a treatment that uses a machine to filter the blood outside of the body. During hemodialysis, a patient’s blood is passed through a special filter called a dialyzer, which removes excess waste, salt, and water from the blood. The clean blood is then returned to the body. Hemodialysis is typically performed in a hospital or a dialysis centre and requires the patient to be hooked up to the machine for 3 to 5 hours at a time, three times a week.
Here are some pros and cons of hemodialysis:
Pros:
Cons:
Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment that uses the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum) to filter the blood. During peritoneal dialysis, a special fluid called dialysate is introduced into the abdomen through a small tube. The dialysate absorbs excess waste, salt, and water from the blood and is then drained out of the body. Peritoneal dialysis can be performed at home and requires the patient to do several exchanges of the dialysate each day.
Here are some pros and cons of peritoneal dialysis:
Pros:
Cons:
A kidney transplantation is done in the case of nonfunctional kidneys. A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a donor is implanted into a person who has kidney failure. The purpose of a kidney transplant is to replace the function of the failed kidneys with a healthy kidney from a donor.
Kidney transplantation is one of the most popular life-saving procedures for people with renal failure as it can increase the quality of life and prolong their lifespan. However, it is not a suitable treatment option for everyone with kidney failure. In order to be eligible for a kidney transplant, a person must meet certain medical criteria and be in overall good health.
There are two main types of kidney transplantation:
Here are some pros and cons of kidney transplantation:
Pros:
Cons:
It is important to discuss the pros and cons of kidney transplantation with a healthcare provider to determine if it is a suitable treatment option for one’s individual needs and circumstances.
Did you know the success rate of a kidney transplant in India is 90–95%?
Kidney transplantation is generally considered to be a better treatment option for most people with kidney failure compared to dialysis. This is because a transplant can provide several benefits over dialysis, including:
However, a kidney transplant is not for everyone. It’s also worth noting that a kidney transplant does not cure renal disease, and the patient will have to take drugs for the rest of the life to keep the body from rejecting the donated kidney.
Even though kidney transplantation has won the debate, it is crucial to highlight that the treatment strategy is determined by various criteria, including the patient’s age, the cause of the kidney disease, his overall health, whether or not he consumes alcohol on occasion, and his lifestyle choices. Other considerations, such as finding an appropriate donor, his financial situation, and his willingness to face the risk, may also be significant. Before making a decision, it is important to discuss and carefully analyse all treatment alternatives, as well as their possible dangers and advantages with the doctor.
About Author –
Dr. Nageswara P Reddy, Consultant Nephrologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda MD, DM (Nephrology)
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