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Kidney Transplantation in Turkey

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What is kidney failure?

The main functions of the kidneys are to filter and remove waste, minerals and fluid from the blood by producing urine. When your kidneys lose this function, harmful levels of fluid and waste build up in your body, which can raise your blood pressure and cause kidney failure. The failure of almost 90% of their kidneys to function is called kidney failure. In order for people with kidney failure to survive, wastes in the bloodstream are removed from the body with a machine. Or it is necessary to provide a new kidney to the patient with a kidney transplant.

Types of kidney failure

It is divided into acute renal failure and chronic renal failure. Acute kidney failure is the situation in which the kidneys start to lose their function in a very short time, without any problem, in a very short time. This process takes place over days, weeks, and months.Chronic kidney failure is the complete loss of kidney function over a long period of time, this condition lasting for years can sometimes progress more rapidly depending on the underlying cause.

Kidney Failure Symptoms

  • Decreased urine output
  • Fluid retention in hands, feet and legs, edema
  • Seizure
  • Nausea
  • Weakness
  • Tiredness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Coma
  • Heart rhythm disorder
  • Chest pain

What is a kidney transplant?

Kidney transplantation is the situation where the patient finds a suitable donor and receives the kidney in order not to continue dialysis and to continue with the standard of living. The non-functioning kidney is removed from the graft, and the healthy kidney is given to the patient. Thus, there is no need for temporary treatments such as dialysis that reduce living standards.

Who can have a kidney transplant?

Kidney transplantation can be performed in very young children and elderly people with kidney failure. As it should be in every surgery, the person who will be transplanted should have a sufficiently healthy body. Apart from that, there should be no infection and cancer in the body. As a result of the necessary tests, it is decided whether the patient is suitable for transplantation.

Why is kidney transplant preferred?

Due to the kidneys not working, the wastes and toxins accumulated in the patient’s body must be expelled somehow. This is usually carried out with a device called dialysis. While dialysis lowers one’s living standards, it also requires a serious diet. It is also a financially challenging temporary kidney treatment. Since the patient cannot live on dialysis for life, kidney transplantation is required.

What are the Kidney Transplant Types?

  • Deceased donor kidney transplant
  • Kidney transplant from a living donor
  • Preventive kidney transplant

Deceased donor kidney transplant: A kidney transplant from a deceased donor is the donation of a kidney from a recently deceased person to a recipient patient. There are factors that are important in this transplant, such as the time of death of the deceased, the vitality of the kidney, and its compatibility with the recipient patient.

Preventive kidney transplant : Preventive kidney transplant is when a person with a kidney problem has a kidney transplant before going on dialysis. But of course, there are some situations where a kidney transplant is riskier than dialysis.

  • Advanced age
  • Severe heart disease
  • Active or recently treated cancer
  • Dementia or poorly controlled mental illness
  • Alcohol or drug use

Kidney transplant risks

Kidney transplantation can be a treatment for advanced kidney failure. However, after a kidney transplant, there is a possibility that you will have problems with your kidneys again. There may not be a definitive treatment method.
In kidney transplantation, no matter how much the donor and recipient donor are compatible, the recipient, the patient’s body may reject the kidney. At the same time, the drugs used to prevent rejection have some side effects. These also carry risks.

Complications that may occur during kidney transplantation

  • Kidney rejection
  • Blood clots
  • Bleeding
  • Paralysis
  • Death
  • An infection or cancer that can be transmitted through the donated kidney
  • Heart attack
  • Leakage or blockage in the ureter
  • Infection
  • Failure of donated kidney

Anti-rejection drug side effects

  • Bone thinning (osteoporosis) and bone damage (osteonecrosis)
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol

Kidney transplant list

An individual who needs a kidney transplant, unfortunately, cannot be transplanted immediately when he/she needs it. In order to have a transplant, first of all, a compatible donor must be found. While this can sometimes be a family member, sometimes it is the kidney of a deceased patient. If there is no compatible donor that you can get from your family members, you are placed on the transplant list. Thus, your waiting period begins to find a kidney compatible with a cadaver. You have to continue dialysis while you wait. Your turn depends on factors such as finding a compatible donor, degree of compatibility, and your survival time after transplantation.

Kidney transplant surgery in Turkey

For kidney transplantation, in many countries, although there are donors, it takes months.
There are patients who have to wait. For this reason, patients are looking for a suitable country for them both in order to find a better quality treatment service and because the success rate is higher.

Turkey is one of these countries. Turkey is one of the countries with the highest success rate in transplant surgeries in recent years. This success is one of the first reasons why it is a preferred country for transplant surgeries, and its short waiting time also makes it preferred. Although it is a vital surgery for a patient, unfortunately, in many countries, there are patients waiting in line to be operated. While waiting for the transplant list, waiting for the surgery list is very disadvantageous in terms of the patient’s vital functions. The situation turns into an advantage for patients who can be operated without the need for this waiting period in Turkey.

Importance of clinic selection in Turkey

We, as Medibooki, have a team that has performed thousands of transplant surgeries over the years and has a very high success rate. In addition to being successful in the field of health, Turkey also has very successful studies in transplant surgery. As Medibooki team, we work with the most successful teams and offer the patient a lifetime and a healthy future. Our transplant teams consist of people who will get to know you before the operation, will be with you in every process and will monitor the process until you are completely healed.
Our teams:

  • Transplant coordinators who perform the assessment test prepare the patient for surgery, plan treatment, and organize post-operative follow-up care.
  • Non-surgeons who prescribe medication before and after surgery.
  • Next come the surgeons who actually do the surgery and work closely with the team.
  • The nursing team plays an important role in the patient’s recovery process.
  • The dietitian team decides on the best, nutritious diet for a patient throughout the journey.
  • Social workers who assist patients emotionally and physically before and after surgery.

Kidney transplant evaluation Process in Turkey

After choosing a transplant center, your eligibility for transplant will be evaluated by the clinic. A full physical exam will be done, scans such as X-ray, MRI or CT will be done, blood tests and you will undergo psychological evaluations. When other necessary tests determined by your doctor are also done, It will be understood whether you are healthy enough to have the surgery, whether you are healthy enough to have the surgery and live with post-transplant medications for life, and whether you have any medical conditions that may hinder the success of the transplant. After the positive result, the necessary procedures for the transplant will begin.

In cases where the result of the evaluation is positive, the following documents are requested from the hospitals in Turkey.

Documents requested by the kidney transplant center in Turkey

  • Notarized copies of identity cards of the recipient and donor
  • Document showing psychological suitability for transfer.
  • At least two witness confirmation document from the donor. (It will be held in our hospital)
  • Consent document (will be issued in our hospital)
  • Health committee report for the recipient and donor. (It will be arranged in our hospital)
  • The petition explaining the origin of the proximity of the recipient and the donor, if there is a document to prove the closeness in question, should be included in the appendix to the petition.
  • Income levels of the recipient and donor, no debt certificate.
  • A document prepared by the donor in the presence of a notary public stating that he/she voluntarily agreed to donate the aforementioned tissue and organ without expecting anything in return.
  • If the donor candidate is married, a photocopy of the spouse’s notarized identity card, a copy of the population registry document proving that he is married, a notary public’s consent stating that the spouse of the donor candidate has knowledge and approval about the organ transplant.
  • Criminal record from the receiving and donor prosecutor’s office.

Operation of the Surgery

Kidney transplant is an important operation. For this reason, it is performed under general anesthesia. You will not feel any pain during the operation. After you are anesthetized, the surgical team monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level throughout the procedure. The surgical procedure begins by making an incision in your lower abdomen. A new kidney is placed in place of your failed kidney. and the new kidney’s blood vessels connect to blood vessels just above one of your legs. Then the ureter of the new kidney is connected to your bladder, and the transplant process ends.

Things to consider after the procedure

Doctors and nurses will keep you in the hospital for a few days to monitor for complications after your new kidney transplant. They need to make sure that your transplanted kidney works like your healthy kidney. this usually happens immediately but in some cases it can be delayed up to 3 days. During this period, you may receive temporary dialysis treatment. During the healing process, you will experience pain at the surgical site. Don’t worry, it’s your body’s signal to get used to the new kidney. After you leave the hospital, stay connected to the hospital each week to make sure your body is not rejecting the kidney, or giving signals that it will reject it. After the operation, you should not lift anything heavy or do strenuous movements for about 2 months. After you fully recover, you should continue to use the drugs that will prevent your body from rejecting the kidney, this will require you to get used to the drugs that should continue throughout your life.

Kidney Transplant Cost In Turkey

The general average of Turkey starts around 18 thousand. However, we offer this vitally important operation to our clinics at prices starting from $15,000. Services included in the package: 10-15 days hospitalization, 3 dialysis, operation