5 Myths and Facts about Kidney Transplant

By Dr. Harvinder Singh Chauhan in Urology

Dec 07 , 2017 | 1 min read

Dr. Harwinder Singh Chauhan, Consultant, Max Super Speciality, Shalimar Bagh, clears some common misconceptions regarding Kidney Transplant. Read on to understand more about the kidney transplant.

Myth 1: Kidney diseases can be cured with a transplant

Fact 1: A transplant is not a cure for the kidney diseases, it is a treatment. Though the transplant can reduce the risk of chronic kidney diseases, you will need to follow a healthy lifestyle to reduce the possibility of diabetes, and cancer as well as other infections.

Myth 2: Younger people are eligible to get a kidney transplant

Fact 2: Anybody who is suffering from an end-stage renal disease is the right candidate to get a kidney transplant.

Myth 3: The patient can die if the transplant fails

Fact 3: No. In case the transplant does not work the recipient can start or resume dialysis or pursue another transplant.

Myth 4: Anybody can be a living donor

Fact 4: According to Indian transplant act, a living donor can only be the recipient’s first-degree blood relative, i.e. mother, father, brother, sister or spouse on the emotional ground. All kidney transplant patients personally arrange their legal donor.ccording to Indian transplant act, a living donor can only be the recipient’s first-degree blood relative, i.e. mother, father, brother, sister or spouse on the emotional ground. All kidney transplant patients personally arrange their legal donor.

Myth 5: Dialysis is better than having a transplant done

Fact 5: Incorrect. Patients who have a transplant done live longer than the patients who stay on dialysis. The transplanted kidney works a whole day to remove total waste from the body. Dialysis removes the little amount of waste only when the dialysis machine works.