Nephrology - Dialysis and Kidney Transplants in India

Common diseases like diabetes, hypertension and chronic glomerulo-nephritis can lead to permanent loss of renal functions - with dialysis and renal transplantation being the frequent outcome. The emergence of new therapeutic interventions has created opportunities in India to manage the progression of renal diseases. ISO certified major hospitals in India have departments of Nephrology and Organ Transplant equipped with the latest computerized dialysis machines, reverse osmosis water plant to provide pure and trace element-free water supply, as well as state-of-the-art facilities in the operating rooms and Transplant Intensive Care Units.

Dialysis & Kidney Transplant in India

For those who need renal replacement therapy, services like Hemodialysis, Chronic Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Transplantation are also available. In addition to the basic hemodialysis facilities, the patients' requirements for other modalities of treatment such as Continuous Arterio-Venous Haemofilteration (CAVH), Continuous Veno-Venous Haemofilteration (CVVH), Continuous Cycler-Assisted Peritioneal Dialysis (CCPD) are also available. Patients can also avail of the bicarbonate dialysis facilities. Round the clock service is available at hospitals for the critically ill patients in the intensive care units who may need fluid, electrolyte management and renal supportive therapy. The cost of getting a dialysis is around US$ 50 to US$ 75 per dialysis whereas the same costs about $ 300 in the U.S.A. Similarly a kidney transplant package in India is available for around US$ 7500 which is comparatively much cheaper than what it would cost abroad.

Dialysis - Hemodialysis and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

Hemodialysis cleans and filters your blood using a machine to temporarily rid your body of harmful wastes, extra salt, and extra water. Hemodialysis helps control blood pressure and helps your body keep the proper balance of important chemicals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, and bicarbonate.

Peritoneal dialysis is another procedure that removes extra water, wastes, and chemicals from your body. This type of dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen to filter your blood. This lining is called the peritoneal membrane and acts as the artificial kidney.

CAPD is the most common type of peritoneal dialysis. It requires no machine and can be done in any clean, well-lit place. With CAPD, your blood is always being cleaned. The dialysis solution passes from a plastic bag through the catheter and into your abdomen, where it stays for several hours with the catheter sealed. The period that dialysis solution is in your abdomen is called the dwell time.

Next, you drain the dialysis solution back into the bag for disposal. You then use the same catheter to refill your abdomen with fresh dialysis solution so the cleaning process can begin again.

Kidney - Renal Transplantation

Kidney transplantation is a surgical operation in which the surgeon places a healthy kidney from another person into your body. The donated kidney does the work that your two failed kidneys used to do.

The surgeon places the new kidney inside your lower abdomen and connects the artery and vein of the new kidney to your artery and vein. Your blood flows through the donated kidney, which makes urine, just like your own kidneys did when they were healthy. The new kidney may start working right away or may take up to a few weeks to make urine. Unless your own kidneys are causing infection or high blood pressure, they are left in place. So, your own diseased kidneys are rarely removed.

Current legal Status of Kidney Transplant in India

"As per the rules of Government of India, only a relative who is compatible can donate a kidney to the patient. Among the relatives, there is a category called the near relatives which is parents, siblings, children and spouse. People in this category can donate the kidney if they are medically compatible without the permission of the Government. Any other relative not belonging to this category in addition to being medically suitable, the permission from the Government needs to be taken.

The relevant documents that are needed for related and non related transplants can be sent to you upon request.