Raj Kundra recently stunned all with his selfless choice of donating a kidney to his ailing teacher. While his choice sparked controversy among netizens, the business mogul recently opened up about his decision to donate an organ to his spiritual guru, Premanand Maharaj, who had been on dialysis for the last two decades.
“Premanand ji, for the last 20 years, has been living with two failed kidneys and is on dialysis 5 hours a day. Yet he is smiling and happy. And instead of asking him a question, I was like, ‘Sir, I would like to pledge a kidney. I am sure hundreds like me would want to do the same. Meri kidney hai main kisiko bhi doon. But this little thing led to so much trolling online,” he told Filmgyan.
Taking a cue from his candid confession, let’s learn more about the procedure — and what it means for the donor and recipient.
According to Dr. Topoti Mukherjee, Lead Consultant – Nephrology and Kidney Transplant, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bangalore, kidney donation is generally a safe procedure, and kidney donors can lead a normal life after.
Once a kidney is donated, the other kidney undergoes some increase in size; one kidney is enough to carry out all the functions of the body. “Having said that, since certain conditions like hypertension and diabetes are very common in the population, we always advise the kidney donors to follow a good diet and lifestyle practices, as well as avoid over-the-counter medicines since their kidney reserve is low,” she said.
Dr Mukherjee further highlighted that recipients might experience complications like rejection, infection, drug-related side effects, alongside basic surgical complications. Long-term complications may include recurrence of the new disease.
“The transplant is immunologically challenging, but these complications happen in a small percentage of people. Patients are made aware of these potential complications, and overall, getting a transplant is a better treatment option than being on dialysis,” she added.
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What precautions should you keep in mind?
Dr. Shyam Varma, Consultant, Urologist and Renal Transplant surgeon, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, told indianexpress.com that when it comes to kidney donation, there are several important precautions and considerations for both the donor and the recipient.
“The first and foremost precaution for a donor is to undergo a thorough medical check-up to confirm overall fitness and ensure both kidneys are healthy. This assessment is crucial because after donation, the remaining kidney must be able to function nearly normally without compromising the donor’s health,” he explained.
According to him, mental preparedness is also a key factor, as kidney donation is a voluntary act and not driven by financial motives. A donor should be in good physical and mental health before the procedure.
Precautions to take before donating a kidney (Source: Freepik)
Lifestyle and dietary recommendations for donors
After a kidney donation, individuals can lead a normal life, but some lifestyle modifications are strongly advised to ensure kidney donors continue to stay healthy after surgery.
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- Donors should follow a balanced diet and avoid excessive protein intake, as too much protein can put strain on the kidney.
- Salt intake should be limited, and hydration is very important: around 2.5 liters of water per day is generally recommended.
- Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, and controlling conditions like diabetes and hypertension (if present) are crucial.
- Smoking and alcohol should be avoided.
- Dietary caution also includes limiting processed and packaged foods such as chips, pickles, papad, and refined oils, which are often high in preservatives and salt.
- Annual health check-ups are recommended for long-term monitoring.
Risks for the donor and recipient
Both experts highlighted that the risks associated with donating a kidney are minimal. For recipients, especially those who have been on dialysis due to both kidneys failing, the risks are slightly different.
“One of the most important risks is rejection, where the recipient’s immune system tries to attack the new kidney. To prevent this, recipients need to take immunosuppressive medication lifelong, without missing doses. Rejection can occur immediately during surgery or later after the transplant,” said Dr Varma.
Another risk relates to the heart and blood vessels. “Prolonged dialysis can weaken the cardiovascular system, which may increase surgical and post-surgical risks. Infections are also a significant concern because of the immunosuppressing medications, with fungal and bacterial infections being the most common,” he added.
Overall, while kidney donation and transplantation do carry some risks, the benefits are particularly for the recipient in terms of improved quality of life are far greater. With proper precautions, diet, lifestyle management, and regular medical supervision, both donors and recipients can enjoy positive long-term health outcomes.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.