Pioneering Kidney Transplants

F. Complications following a kidney transplant

While kidney transplants are a life-saving procedure, it's important to understand that, like any surgery, they do carry some risks. However, thanks to advancements in medicine, the rates of serious complications have fallen sharply in recent decades. Here are some of the potential risks involved in kidney transplants.

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  Infection: Between 10% and 20% of transplant recipients experience an infection within the first week after surgery. This is due to the immunosuppressant medicines you need to take after your transplant, which lower your immune system's ability to fight infections. Thankfully, these infections can be managed with antibiotics or other medications.
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  Blood Clots: Blood clots can form in the arteries connected to the new kidney, affecting around 1 in 50 transplants. While medication can sometimes dissolve these clots, in some cases, removing the transplanted kidney might be necessary if the blood supply is blocked.
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  Narrowing of an Artery (Arterial Stenosis): Over time, the artery supplying blood to the transplanted kidney can narrow, potentially causing high blood pressure. This narrowing can often be treated with a procedure to widen the artery, and sometimes, a stent may be placed to keep it open.
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  Blocked Ureter: The tube carrying urine from the kidney to the bladder (ureter) can become blocked. This blockage can happen soon after surgery due to blood clots or develop later due to scar tissue. A catheter can often resolve the blockage, though surgery might sometimes be required.
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  Urine Leakage: A small leak from where the ureter joins the bladder can occur within the first month after surgery (around 3-4% of recipients). This fluid buildup can be treated with additional surgery.
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  Acute Rejection: Even with immunosuppressant medications, the recipient's body may recognize the transplanted kidney as foreign and attack it. This is called acute rejection and affects up to 1 in 3 people in the first year after a transplant. Acute rejection often doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms and is usually detected through routine blood tests. If rejection does occur, it can often be successfully treated with a short course of stronger immunosuppressant medications.