Kidney failure can be treated in two ways: dialysis, or a kidney transplant. Kidney transplantation is preferred because it’s a procedure that can extend the life of the recipient, while at the same time reducing costs and increasing their quality of life. It does, however, have some setbacks.
Pros of Transplantation
Kidney transplantation is a long-term solution to kidney failure, as recipients are expected to live 10-15 years longer than patients on dialysis. Additionally, it’s been proven that people who receive a kidney before needing to go on dialysis (preemptive transplantation) live longer than recipients who waited until after dialysis.
Dialysis patients report frequent feelings of fatigue as toxins build up in their body. They also have reduced independence because they have to visit the dialysis center. Kidney transplant recipients, on the other hand, report having more energy, a less restricted diet, more freedom from clinic visits, and fewer health complications than patients on dialysis. They are able to participate in more activities, leading to a better overall feeling of well-being.
Dialysis requires patients to visit a dialysis center three or more times per week, and spend 3-5 hours per session in the center. This reduced independence gets in the way of a normal daily schedule, and travel becomes very difficult. Kidney recipients only need to worry about taking their daily medications and monthly clinic visits, which gives them more free time to pursue other activities.
Dialysis can cost over $5,000 per month. The kidney transplant procedure costs about $170,000 with medications costing $1,500 per month. Despite its higher up-front cost, transplantation becomes cheaper than dialysis after the third year.
Cons of Transplantation
There is a very small chance that the transplant surgery may run into complications like bleeding, or problems with anesthesia. The chances of this occurring are very slim, and is usually corrected by the surgery team.
Your immune system will attack the new kidney as a foreign object that's invading your body, for which you'll be given anti-rejection medications. Kidney rejection leading to kidney failure was a concern in the past, but with recent improvements to medications, they have become a rare and treatable occurrence.
The downside of taking medication that suppresses your immune system is that it'll leave you vulnerable to viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. If you become infected for any reason, we'll need to treat you in the hospital to eradicate the illness.
