What Tests Are Done Before A Kidney Transplant?

 

What Tests Are Done Before A Kidney Transplant?

 

Kidney Transplants are one of the most done surgeries in today’s medical industry. It is done when kidneys lose their ability to filter out wastes from the body. These waste products can build up over time and be potentially life-threatening. These waste products include urea, the by-product of the nitrogenous breakdown of protein. 

 

The end-stage of chronic kidney disease or overall kidney failure is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant. And in many ways, a kidney transplant is regarded as a better solution than dialysis because it promotes a better quality of life and lesser chance of increasing complications.

 

What are the tests done before a kidney transplant?

There are many important tests done right before a kidney transplant. The first step is evaluating the condition of the patient, making sure they are physically fit enough to endure the kidney transplant procedure. The tests involved in assessing the patient are:

1. Blood Test - Blood tests are done to check any infections in the blood. It lets the doctor know the haemoglobin levels, alcohol levels, the overall suitability for the surgery, blood count, blood urea, serum creatinine, etc.

2. Scans and X-rays - It includes Chest X-ray, Cardiac Catheterization (A procedure where a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the neck/abdomen/hand, then is directed towards the aorta and then into the heart, enabling it to conduct tests on the heart). The doctors also undertake Abdomen and Groin Scans and Ultrasounds in the KUB region.

3. Pregnancy tests (for women) to check for potentially fertile women.

4. ECGs and ECHOs - ECGs and ECHOs are done to check the functionality of the heart.

5. Urine Test - Urine Analysis for checking the levels of bacteria, proteinuria and bacteriuria.

6. Other basic tests for those with known heart disease, liver disease, pulmonary disease, infections, and malignancies.

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Once the patient has finished all the above tests and is found suitable for surgery, the potential donors should undergo the following tests to see if their kidney is compatible with the patient.

A Living Kidney Donor undergoes the following tests:

1. The donor should not be overweight, and the BMI should be according to the medical standards. The donor should also have two perfectly functioning kidneys. Also, they must be at least 18 years old.

2. The donor should undergo similar blood tests like the patient to check blood counts, urea levels. The blood tests are taken to determine the blood group of the donor to make sure the groups match.

3. The emotional willingness of the donor must be evaluated before the KidneyTransplant Procedure.

4.  Crossmatch test – This test is done by taking the blood of the patient and the donor and mixing them to see how both the samples react. It will ensure that the patient does not have any antibodies that may attack the donor’s kidney once it is transplanted.

5. Urine tests, Chest X-rays, ECGs and ECHOs are also performed on the donor to make sure they are healthy before they donate their kidney.

 

The above test results will help the doctor decide whether to proceed with the kidney transplant. However, it is advised to take consultations from the best kidney transplant doctor. To learn more about kidney transplant treatment, contact us here.