Table of contents:
- What is an organ transplant?
- Where can I get new organ donors?
- What needs to be prepared before organ transplant surgery?
- Prepare yourself mentally
- Pay attention to your lifestyle before organ transplant surgery
- Prepare the costs required
- List of questions you can ask your doctor before organ transplant
- How long does the organ transplant surgery take?
- How is the recovery after organ transplant surgery?
If you need a new organ to replace the one in your body that is problematic, of course there is a feeling of raging inside of you. Here are things you need to know about organ transplants so that you have a clearer picture if you need a new organ.
What is an organ transplant?
An organ transplant is an operation to remove a healthy organ from a person to be transplanted into another person whose organs are damaged or damaged. This usually saves the life of the person receiving the organ transplant.
Organ transplants that are commonly done today include the kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart, lungs, and small intestine. Sometimes, a "double" transplant is also performed, for example a kidney / pancreas or a heart / lung. Kidney transplants are the most commonly performed transplants today, while small intestine transplants are the least frequently performed.
The conditions for organ transplantation vary depending on the type of organ being transplanted. To find an organ that fits the patient's body, blood type and organ size tests are usually performed. Another thing that will be checked is how long you have been registered with waiting list people who need organs, how sick the patient is, and how far away the donor organ is and who will receive the organs. The regulations for organ transplants in Indonesia are regulated by law.
Where can I get new organ donors?
You can choose whether you want your organ donation to be from a living or deceased person. Living organ donors are usually close family members or friends. Potential donors will have their blood tested to see if their organs fit into the recipient's organs. However, if it turns out that the test results show the donor's organs do not fit properly, you can still look for programs that provide donor representation.
If it is an urgent need, your name will be on the top priority list for getting donors. You also have the option of buying organs. However, in Indonesia, this is prohibited and regulated in the law Article 64 paragraph (3) of Law 36/2009.
What needs to be prepared before organ transplant surgery?
Once you get word that there is a suitable candidate organ for you, maybe you can relax and relax a little while waiting for the schedule for surgery. So, the times before the transplant is the best time for you to prepare yourself mentally, physically and financially.
Prepare yourself mentally
You have to prepare yourself mentally when it comes to organ transplants. It is good for you to express what you feel to your doctor or nurse, so they will know what you are feeling. Of course, the doctor will tell you about what possibilities you will face. However, usually doctors themselves have never had an organ transplant. Try talking or sharing with people who have experienced organ transplantation firsthand.
If you have no acquaintance with these people, you can ask a nurse or doctor to introduce you to their other patients who have had organ transplants.
You may feel nervous as you wait for news about an organ donor that is suitable for you. Take this time to think carefully about what is going on and what you will face. Usually, it takes several months for a patient to accept that he needs an organ transplant and to realize the impact that his life will have on him.
Although everyone may need some time to accept the fact that their health is no longer the same as it used to be, it is advisable for those of you who are undergoing an organ transplant to be optimistic. Remember to yourself that you are not a disease, you are still like you were, but there are problems in your body that need to be fixed and this organ transplant is the best way to make your life a better future.
Pay attention to your lifestyle before organ transplant surgery
Usually, people undergoing an organ transplant need lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. This is difficult for some people. Prospective organ transplant recipients usually expect a lot of thinking about the advanced technology that will replace their organs, and underestimate or forget about the lifestyle required for organ transplants. This is a perspective that needs to be instilled in people who are going to receive an organ transplant, and make sure that this organ transplant is really what you need.
Prepare the costs required
Regardless of the type of organ, organ transplantation is definitely expensive. Don't forget to prepare yourself financially. Check with your insurance agency whether they will also cover the cost of this organ transplant operation. Or maybe you ask for donations from organizations that provide. Or you can also use the BPJS or KIS provided by the Indonesian government.
List of questions you can ask your doctor before organ transplant
As you prepare mentally, physically, and financially, you are sure to have a myriad of questions that you will want to ask. One of the most frequent questions is when should you be in the hospital before starting surgery. The answer to this question varies and depends on a variety of factors, including your own health condition.
Here is a list of questions you can ask your doctor before organ transplant:
- Can doctors explain the risks and benefits of organ transplants?
- Can the doctor explain how it works waiting list for organ transplant?
- Can the doctor explain to me about the organ transplant success rates that are the same as me and my age?
- How long waiting list for the organs I need?
- How high is the one year safety rate in this hospital for the same organ transplant procedure as me?
- How many surgeons can perform the type of organ transplant I need?
- How long do I have to stay in the hospital after organ transplant surgery?
- Can I travel right away, or do I need to stay in one place for a period of time?
- Are there any other tests I need to take and for how long?
- What are the reasons usually that I have to return to the hospital again after surgery?
How long does the organ transplant surgery take?
The duration of the organ transplant operation depends on the transplanted organ as well as various other factors. For example, you may spend less time in the operating room if you have had surgery on the same organ or have had the same organ transplant before.
The following is an estimate of the average organ transplant surgery time:
- Liver, 5-8 hours
- Kidney, 4-5 hours
- Pancreas, 2-4 hours
- Kidney-pancreas, 5-7 hours
However, don't stick to the times above. Your surgeon will tell you the estimated time of surgery based on your condition.
How is the recovery after organ transplant surgery?
Recovery after an organ transplant depends on the operation you undergo and the standard processes of the hospital itself. Once the surgery is over, you are usually transferred to the ICU. You can start hosting as soon as the doctor allows, usually sooner than you think. Even if your condition is good, you can start hosting on the same day as the day of the operation.
During your recovery, the priority is to get you moving and getting active again. Typically, you begin to be asked to sit in a chair a day or 2 after surgery. How long you stay in the hospital also varies. The doctors and nurses will assess how sick you were before the transplant and how well you were after the operation. For kidney transplants, it is usually about 4-5 days, for kidney-pancreas it is usually 7-10 days, and for liver transplants it is usually 7-10 days.
