Live Related Kidney Transplant in Kochi

A live related kidney transplant is a kidney transplantation procedure in which a healthy kidney is donated by an eligible living relative to a patient with advanced kidney failure. Living donor kidney transplantation allows the transplant to be planned after comprehensive evaluation of both the donor and recipient and confirmation of medical suitability.

At the Centre of Excellence in Multi-Organ Transplantation at Apollo Adlux Hospital, Kochi, patients undergoing living donor kidney transplantation are supported by a multidisciplinary team of nephrologists, transplant surgeons, anaesthesiologists, intensivists, infectious disease specialists, radiologists, transplant coordinators, dietitians and rehabilitation professionals. The programme provides comprehensive support from recipient assessment and donor evaluation through transplant surgery, intensive care, immunosuppression management and long-term follow-up.

Who May Be Considered for a Live Related Kidney Transplant?

Living donor kidney transplantation may be considered for eligible patients with end-stage kidney disease or advanced irreversible chronic kidney disease who have a medically suitable living donor. Before transplantation, both the donor and recipient undergo detailed evaluation. This may include blood group assessment, compatibility testing, kidney function tests, imaging, cardiovascular assessment, infection screening and other investigations based on individual clinical requirements.

Living kidney donors also undergo an independent and comprehensive assessment to determine whether donation is medically appropriate and to prioritise their long-term health and safety.

Living Kidney Donor Evaluation

The evaluation of a potential kidney donor is an important part of the transplant programme. The assessment may include:

• Blood group and compatibility testing
• Kidney function evaluation
• Blood and urine investigations
• Imaging of the kidneys and renal blood vessels
• Cardiovascular and general health assessment
• Screening for infections and underlying medical conditions
• Anaesthesia evaluation
• Psychological and counselling support
• Nutritional and lifestyle assessment

The transplant team carefully evaluates the donor before deciding whether kidney donation can proceed.

Live Related Kidney Transplant Procedure

During transplantation, a healthy kidney is removed from the donor and implanted into the recipient. In most kidney transplant procedures, the donated kidney is positioned in the lower abdomen and connected to the recipient's blood vessels and urinary system.At Apollo Adlux Hospital, living donor kidney transplantation is supported by dedicated transplant operating facilities, specialised transplant intensive care and advanced surgical technology. Where clinically appropriate, minimally invasive donor nephrectomy techniques may be considered to reduce the surgical impact on the donor.

After Kidney Transplantation

Following transplantation, the recipient is monitored closely for kidney function, fluid balance, infection, surgical recovery and signs of rejection. Patients require immunosuppressive medications to reduce the risk of the immune system attacking the transplanted kidney. Regular follow-up is therefore an essential part of kidney transplant care. The transplant team provides ongoing support for medication management, infection prevention, nutrition, lifestyle modification and monitoring of transplanted kidney function.

The kidney transplant programme at Apollo Adlux Hospital provides coordinated care for both recipients and living donors, with access to advanced diagnostics, specialised transplant surgery, dedicated critical care and structured post-transplant follow-up.