Kidney transplant is a transfer of a healthy kidney to an individual whose kidney has little or no function left. The donor kidney can come from a deceased individual or a living person. It is preferable if the patient receives the kidney from a blood relation.

The kidney is a bean-shaped organ located at the back of the abdomen and below the rib cage. It is a vital organ responsible for filtering waste products from the blood, producing urine, maintaining fluid balance and blood pressure, releasing important hormones, and helping produce red blood cells. 

A patient needs a kidney transplant when the patient contracts end-stage renal disease. The patient is screened for contraindications like cardiovascular disease, terminal infections, cancer, etc. They are screened for compliance with the medication, which will be required post-surgery for the survival of the patient. If the screening is successful, the patient is put on a waitlist. 

When a healthy kidney is removed from a live person, such a transplant is known as a living-donor kidney transplant. Chances of success in a live transplant are understood to be considerably higher. The biggest challenge to a kidney transplant is the acceptance of the new kidney. Doctors prescribe immunosuppressants to lower the chances of the immune system rejecting the organ. 

Deceased patients will include brain-dead patients. The patients whose is brain-dead and have lost all brain activity including the brain stem but a bit of circulation is continuing. 

The surgery typically takes 3 to 4 hours. Once the new kidney is installed and connected to the blood vessels and the ureter, it is considered ready to function. This may happen readily or may take a while. Immunosuppressant drugs are administered post-surgery. The surgical team closely monitors blood toxicity levels, signs of rejection, and other side effects to assess kidney functioning.

Kidney Transplant Cost

Kidney transplant is quite a complex surgery if one considers the logistics and extensive screening apart from the actual surgery. The cost of kidney transplant surgery in India costs around 7 to 10 lakhs. The kidney transplant price in India will include pre-transplant evaluation, kidney transplant surgery, and poet-transplant care. 

Kidney transplant cost in India is still lower than in several developed countries. The best kidney transplant doctors in India are well-trained and are supported by world-class infrastructure to provide the best care for their patients. 

The price of a kidney transplant in India depends on several factors:

• The general health of the patient
• The type of transplant (living or dead donor)
• The type of hospital
• Surgeon’s fees 
• The hospital room selected
• The length of hospital stay.
• Insurance coverage 

Top 5 best Kidney transplant hospitals in India

The best hospital for kidney transplants in India is accredited by the e Joint Commission International (JCI), which is a global healthcare organization that sets standards for quality care. The hospitals have a team of experienced doctors and surgeons specializing in kidney transplants. The hospitals have state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities to improve the success rate of the surgery. The best kidney transplant hospitals in India are:

• Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai,
• Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, 
• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon  

Top 10 best Kidney Transplant Doctors in India

The best Doctors for kidney transplants in India are experienced and have a proven track record in performing kidney transplant surgeries. They work in some of the best hospitals in India, ensuring that patients receive world-class care. The best kidney transplant doctors in India are:-

·        Dr. Sandeep Guleria, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi

·        Dr. Saritha Vinod, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Chennai

·        Dr. Salil Jain, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon

·        Dr. Arun Halankar, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai

·        Dr. P. Chatree, Metro Hospital & Cancer Institute, Preet Vihar, New Delhi

·        Dr. Sharad Sheth, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai

·        Dr. Laxmi Kant Tripathi, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon

·        8. Dr. Dinesh Khullar, Max Healthcare, New Delhi

·        Dr. Rajesh Ahlawat, Fortis Hospital, New Delhi

·        Dr. Sanjay Gogoi, Manipal Hospital, New Delhi