Page 47 - More than a match

The Transplant Operation

theatre to be transplanted. The operation usually takes up to three
hours. Most recipients say they feel the new kidney working after

a couple of hours after the transplant; that is amazing!

AFTER THE OPERATION
After the operation, the donor wakes up in the recovery room
where they will be for a couple of hours before going to the ward.
Once settled, your family is allowed to visit you. Be prepared
for the pain and the number of different tubes attached to your
body. As well as dressings over your wound, there will be a small
plastic drain tube attached to a wound drainage bag, which will

collect bloodstained fluid from your wound. This will be removed
when there is little or no drainage from it, which is usually the
next day. You will also have a urinary catheter, which makes it
easier to pass urine. Getting in and out of bed can be painful and
will hurt a lot around the lower abdomen where the kidney was
removed; however, you will be on pain-killing medication. These
strong pain-killers are often based on morphine, which may make

you constipated, so it’s recommended that you eat plenty of fruit,
vegetables and fibre.
The next day, you will be encouraged to sit out of bed for short
periods. Throughout the day, there will be various checks, such
as blood pressure, blood tests, and measurements of how much
urine you have passed and how much fluid you are taking. A
physiotherapist will be on hand to make sure you can get up and
about and to help you to cough and breathe after surgery. The
wound itself is quite small and usually closed with dissolvable

stitches. The wound dressings will be removed after 48 hours or

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