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Small Child Has Only One Kidney From Birth, Low Functioning. Kidney Transplant To Be Done. Prognosis?
My daughter was born with just one kidney which functions at 45% (she is 4 years old now). We have been told that she will need a kidney transplant at some stage in the future. Whilst I understand to a certain extent the procedure, recovery and maintenance associated with a transplant I am absolutely shocked to learn that her lifespan will be cut short if she does have a transplant. I am so confused as I recently heard that a persons lifespan could be cut short by 20-40 years following a transplant- is this correct?
Sat, 9 Feb 2013
Hi
Thank you for your query
Firstly it will be helpful to know the details of why this kidney is functioning 45%. I suggest you consult a pediatric surgeon. At times the damage may be due to an ongoing cause and if it can be averted then your child might get away without a transplant. But the pediatric surgeon needs to evaluate further for details. A transplanted kidney has a life of 10-20 years. So when it is done for an older person it works out fine. In children it is done only when we think that the life expectancy without a transplant is lesser than that. So actually it does not curtail one's life. It prolongs it from the already curtailed life due to the disease. But in children 10-20 years is not enough. That is why all this rumors regarding transplant. But we never know. It may last longer. And then we can think of a repeat transplant or alternative measures at that stage too. So if required transplant is life saving and life prolonging.
Hope that helps
God bless you
Thank you for your query
Firstly it will be helpful to know the details of why this kidney is functioning 45%. I suggest you consult a pediatric surgeon. At times the damage may be due to an ongoing cause and if it can be averted then your child might get away without a transplant. But the pediatric surgeon needs to evaluate further for details. A transplanted kidney has a life of 10-20 years. So when it is done for an older person it works out fine. In children it is done only when we think that the life expectancy without a transplant is lesser than that. So actually it does not curtail one's life. It prolongs it from the already curtailed life due to the disease. But in children 10-20 years is not enough. That is why all this rumors regarding transplant. But we never know. It may last longer. And then we can think of a repeat transplant or alternative measures at that stage too. So if required transplant is life saving and life prolonging.
Hope that helps
God bless you
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