Each and every human body contains two kidneys. However, you do only need one to survive and get by. They are located in the abdomen, where they lie on both sides of the backbone. They are about the size of a fist. They are shaped irregularly, almost in the shape of a bean. Your kidneys work together to remove wastes and products from the body. These can be just natural wastes or drugs, alcohol, or other things that can do harm to the body. They also process your blood, sorting out excess fluids, unwanted chemicals and waste. The kidneys then turn these wastes into urine, making them work with the urinary system.

Here is kind of an insight on where the kidneys are located. As you can see on the left, your kidneys are connected to the ureters, which transport the unneeded and unwanted fluid in the body, which then from there, the fluids are moved into the bladder.

So, when speaking about kidneys, there is the downside of them failing. Kidneys can fail for numerous reasons from physical injuries, to diseases (like diabetes), to even just high blood pressure. However, kidney failures do not happen overnight and take some time to do. Symptoms of kidney failures are nothing out of the normal but can be fatal. These symptoms include: swelling of legs and feet, loss of appetite, confusion, shortness of breath, insomnia, and very little to no urine- as in not using the bathroom as often as you normally would.

And here are some visuals to see the difference in a healthy kidney, compared to a diseased kidney. As you can see, the diseased kidney has scar tissue, damaged glomerulus (glomer-u-lus) and damaged tubules.

Kidney transplants are mainly operated for people who have kidney diseases or kidney failures. Kidney’s are often damaged from diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure. This causes your kidneys to not work properly, making your body not be able to get rid of those toxins the body does not need.

In order to get a kidney transplant, most people need to take steps when looking for a donor. First off, the hardest part is typically finding an ideal kidney match. These matches can be from either someone who is willing to donate one of their own for the person in need, or it can be from a deceased donor. However, numerous things need to match in order for the body to accept the new kidney, such as: blood type matching, the blood type from the donor needs to match the person receiving it. Tissues also are a huge thing that also needs to match. Certain proteins, more specifically, antigens, need to match between the patient and potential donor’s blood, along with the tissues, before being able to accept the kidney. Also, the cells within the potential donor and the recipient need to be mixed in order for the kidney to work properly in the body, this is known as cross matching.

Days leading up to a patients nephrectomy (also known as the removal of one of your kidneys), many steps need to take place beforehand. About a month before the surgery, patients are required to go through numerous tests, such as an EKG, which is a heart monitor, a chest X-ray, urinalysis and blood tests. Patients typically have a conversation with their surgeon on how to help the surgery go smoothly. Generally, doctors suggest they should start training and walking, building up their endurance so that way there is no complications during the transplant. This also means securing a healthy diet, staying well-hydrated, and sleeping efficiently. All of these preparations are necessary to be completed in order to address any issues that may rise before the upcoming operation. Moving forward, about 24 hours before the surgery, the physician will require you to drink only clear liquids (meaning only water) and nothing after midnight the day before the operation. However, this particular surgery typically has very few complications, yet it is always a possibility since it is a surgery.

Overall, the operation in total takes about 3-5 hours. In the operating room, the patient will receive anesthesia, where they are asleep the whole surgery. Then when you are fully “under,” the surgeon when cut an opening in your abdomen. Interestingly, the patient own kidney will NOT be removed, unless it is infected or causing pain. So with that being said, the donor kidney is placed on top of their original kidney. The surgeons then connect the blood vessels of the new kidney to your blood vessels. When that is complete, the surgeon will then connect the ureter of the new kidney to your bladder. Then when the procedure is over, the opening in the body will be closed with either stitches, special glue, or staples.

Post operation processes may include draining of the abdomen. This may be necessary in case extra fluids build up because of the surgery. The doctors will insert a tiny tube that is known as a stent, into the ureter to help urine pass into your bladder, making the patient pee. This will generally last about 6-12 weeks, but it is not always needed. Recovery is a different journey for everyone. Some people are able to get out of bed and walk around as soon as the next day after the transplant. However, most patients typically stay in the hospital for less than 5 days. Doctors recommend taking off work for 6 to 8 weeks since they are not allowed to drive or lift heavy objects for a whole month. Patients usually begin to feel better around 2 weeks after the operation. Weekly check ups with your doctor are necessary to make sure the body is not rejecting the kidney, and healing correctly. Medication, such as immunosuppressants, is generally prescribed to those who experience a nephrectomy.

The key to a fast recovery is to start off slow. Doctors advise their patients to stay active, but to not push their limits. This starts off as just simply taking short walks and stretches. And as their body heals and time passes, slowly build up your endurance and try harder exercises. Contact sports such as football and many others, are off limits and could cause even further damage to the kidneys. A huge part in a quick recovery is to stop smoking and drinking. These two are a key factor when in the recovery process. Some patients also choose to develop a meal plan, where they eat more fruits and vegetables and develop healthier eating habits, while keeping their blood pressure and blood sugar regular.

All in all, kidney transplants can be painful and can create soreness after the surgery. This operation can be expensive, for it costs around 400 thousand dollars to be done. People who obtain a kidney transplant, usually need to have multiple throughout their life. Kidneys usually last for about 12-20 years if they are from another living human. On the other hand, kidneys that are donated from the deceased typically last about 8-12 years. However, this procedure is necessary in order to stay alive. This is not something people are generally embarrassed about, because it is life threatening and can help keep you living.