Organ transplant

What Is Organ transplant?

Organ transplant is a surgical procedure in which an organ is removed from the body of the donor and placed in the body of the patient having damaged or missing organ. The organ donor can be a living person or a person who has just died. Transplantation of organs and tissues is done normally. These include:

• Organs: Heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, thymus and intestine.
• Tissues: Nerves, veins, heart valves, cornea, bones, and tendons.

Organ transplant is a complex and challenging process. Problems such as organ transplant rejection may occur. The immune system of the recipient may not accept the organ of the donor. It may lead to failure of the process. Regular medications are required to be taken by the recipient to make organ transplant successful. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Organ transplant?

Symptoms of organ transplant may vary from person to person and also from organ to organ.

What Are The Causes Of Organ transplant?

Causes for organ transplant include:

• The improper functioning of the organ or tissues.
• Damaged organ or tissues due to some illness or accident.
• Failure of organs.
• Missing organs
• Diseases leading to organ failures such as diabetes, cirrhosis, heart disease, hepatitis and cystic fibrosis.
• Birth defects causing organ failure.

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Organ transplant?

If you recently have had an organ transplant, please:

• Monitor your health daily for any signs of rejection. Patient must check his weight, blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature regularly.
• If you find any symptoms, rush to a doctor immediately.
• Maintain hygiene as the risk of getting an infection is very high during early days. Keep your living room and washrooms clean and germs free.
• Routine health check-up is necessary.
• Eat a healthy and nutritious diet only as advised by the dietician.
• Protect your skin from the sun. Use sunscreens while going out. Risk of skin cancer increases after the organ transplant.
• Always take your immunosuppressants on time to reduce the risk of organ rejection.
• Maintain ideal body weight as after organ transplant body weight might increase due to the intake of medications. Excessive weight may cause several other diseases.
• Always keep you wound clean to reduce the risk of infection.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Organ transplant?

After getting organ transplant you should:

• Avoid lifting heavy items. These will increase the stress on the newly transplanted organ.
• Driving should be avoided in the first month as it may cause pain.
• Avoid smoking as the smoke can increase the risk of lung infection.
• Avoid strenuous exercise in first 6 weeks.
• Avoid alcohol as it may interfere with anti-rejection medications and can affect the functioning of the liver.
• Never miss your medications as it may delay the recovery.
• Avoid NSAIDS as these can cause organ dysfunction.

What Are The Best Foods For Organ transplant?

• Protein-rich food: It is recommended to eat protein-rich food after transplant as this will speed up the recovery. The medicines given after organ transplant increase the muscle breakdown and thus protein helps to cover up this issue. Food such beans, peanut, nuts, Tofu, eggs, fish, milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs are rich in protein. These should be added to your diet.
• High fiber food: Kidney beans, lentils, whole grains, whole fruits are rich in fiber. These help to improve the digestion and to balance body weight.
• Green vegetables: Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and minerals. These are full of proteins and antioxidants which are much beneficial during the recovery process to meet the energy requirements of the body.
• Water: It is advised to stay hydrated all day by drinking plenty of water.
• Fresh fruits: Fresh fruits are the good source of essential nutrients such as magnesium, iron, and vitamins. These help to speed up the recovery process.
• Low-fat products: Low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese are the good sources of calcium which helps to recover the bone loss caused after transplant.

What Are The Worst Foods For Organ transplant?

• Fatty and processed foods: Anti-rejection medicines increase the cholesterol level. So to balance the fat of the body fatty and processed foods should be avoided. These are rich in cholesterol which can be dangerous.
• Sugar and sugar products: Products containing sugar should be avoided such as cakes, biscuits, rice, desserts, beverages, jam as these can increase the blood sugar level.
• High potassium diet: Medicines given after transplant increases the potassium levels. So products rich in potassium should be avoided. Foods such sweet potatoes, spinach, tomato, avocado, banana, kiwi, orange, bran cereals, chocolate milk, are rich in potassium and should be avoided.
• Raw fruits and vegetables: Raw food should be avoided as the risk of getting infection increases after eating raw food after an organ transplant.
• Salt: Medicines such Prednisone given after transplant increase the sodium level and water retention thereby increase the blood pressure in the body. So it is recommended to limit the intake of salt.
• Avoid alcohol: Alcohol increases the cholesterol and sugar level of the body so it should be avoided. 

What Are The Medicines For Organ transplant?

What Are The Tips To Manage Organ transplant?

• Organ transplant has proven to be a boon for maximum patients. It improves quality of life. But there are several health challenges to be faced before, during and after an organ transplant.
• Here are some useful tips to manage your health after organ transplant:
• Note the early symptoms of rejections and consult your doctor immediately. It can be reversed if diagnosed on time.
• Monitor your sugar levels, blood pressure, and weight on regular basis.
• Stay active by doing exercise daily. Vigorous exercise should be avoided. It should be done after consulting with the trainer only.
• Never miss your appointment with the doctors.
• You should never change or discontinue the medicine on your own.
• Get the entire screening test done to check the recovery process.
• Stress should be avoided as it can delay the recovery.
• Take rest and adequate sleep.