Low Cost Kidney Transplant in India

The cost of kidney transplants in India starts from USD 13000 (INR 1,035,000), including pre-transplant evaluation, surgery, and other expenses, that’s comparatively lower than the cost for surgery in many other countries.

Type of Kidney transplant Surgery in India Average Kidney Transplant Cost in India
Kidney transplant with open surgery 13,000 – 17,000 USD
Kidney transplant with laparoscopic surgery 17,000 – 23,000 USD
Pre-transplant evaluation tests 1400 – 2800 USD
Kidney transplant surgery cost in India

Inclusions of the package:

  • Total 10 days stay for the recipient (Single Bedded Room)
  • 5 days for the donor (Twin Sharing Room)
  • One day pre-operative & nine days post-operative.

For both Donor & Recipient 

  • Post-operative lab tests
  • Post-operative testing and Imaging radiology service
  • OT/Ward consumables, Machine, and OT Charges
  • Blood Transfusion Services
  • Surgeon’s fee
  • Anesthesia Service
  • Stent removal
  • Graft biopsy
  • Diabetic review & consultation

Package exclusions:

  • Stay over 10 days will be charged additionally for the recipient and 5 days for the donor
  • HLA typing & cross-match test
  • Additional or special medications
  • Corrective surgery other than transplant, if any
  • Invasive cardiac imaging tests or procedures for heart disease, if required postoperatively
NOTE – The cost may differ based on the choices of services and room category opted by the patient.

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Pre-transplant tests for Kidney Transplant in India

Pre-transplant TestPatientDonor
Blood group (ABO)YesYes
CBCYesYes
Urine routine and cultureYesYes
Liver function TestYesYes
Blood glucoseYesYes
Lipid profileYesYes
Renal function testsYesYes
Screening tests for HbsAg/HCV/HIV/EBV/CMV IgGYesYes
Tissue typing/HLAYesYes
Lymphocyte cross-matchYesYes
Uroflowmetry post-void residueYesYes
CT scan for kidney stone detectionYesYes

 

Apart from the initial laboratory evaluation tests, the patient and the donor will undergo a few more tests to rule out complications arising from underlying medical conditions/comorbidities. 

  • ECG, 2D echocardiography, and cardiac stress test
  • X-ray Chest, ABG (arterial blood gases) & Lung function tests
  • 24 hours urine protein
  • GFR (Filtration rate) measurements
  • Oral GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test)/HbA1c 
  • BT/PT/PTT tests
  • Ultrasonography of abdomen
  • CT angiography or selective renal angiography
  • Psychological evaluation

What are the factors that affect Kidney Transplant cost in India?

The cost of kidney transplants in India starts from USD 13000 (INR 1,035,000), including pre-transplant evaluation, surgery, and other expenses, that’s comparatively lower than the cost for surgery in many other countries. The overall Kidney transplant cost in India also depends on the following factors:

  • Availability of Donor
  • The severity of the patient’s condition
  • Type of transplant required
  • Location, type, and clinical infrastructure of the hospital
  • Duration of hospital stay
  • The expertise and fee of the surgeon
  • Diagnostic and other laboratory tests
  • Additional factors like the choice of accommodation, length of stay in India, travel plans, food, and other miscellaneous expenses.

How can Lyfboat assist you getting Kidney Transplant in India?

World's Most Trusted Medical Advisory & Discount Platform

Lyfboat is a free advisory platform; we do not charge any fees from patients. In fact, we negotiate the price that Indian hospitals offer. In some cases we are able to reduce the cost by negotiating upto 20% of what Hospitals generally offer. We advise the best treatment from the top hospital/surgeon at best price.

Low-Cost Kidney Transplant in India 

 

  • A kidney transplant is one of the most commonly performed organ transplantation procedures. This procedure is a second chance at life for patients with end-stage renal failure, also known as kidney failure, which means their kidney functions have stopped.
  • Such patients usually start the treatment with dialysis. Although dialysis can help maintain kidney functions in a patient’s body, it is a time-consuming and dependent process. 
  • Kidney transplantation is a long-term solution for treating kidney failure and is even more cost-effective than regular dialysis.
  • A donation and transplantation of a kidney are possible, as a person can survive with only one fully functional kidney.
  • The procedure involves transferring a healthy kidney from a suitable donor into the patient’s body. The new kidney will restore the renal functions of purifying the blood of the toxin and waste material in the body, helping prolong and improve the patient’s quality of life.

Types of kidney transplantation programs in India

Paired Exchange Kidney Transplant (or Swap Transplant)

Incompatible Blood Type Kidney Transplant

Positive Crossmatch and Sensitized Patient Kidney Transplant

  • This type of kidney transplant program is an option for patients if their blood or tissue types do not match with the donor. 
  • A paired exchange is done when the patients have willing but incompatible donors, and they are allowed to exchange kidneys with one another. 
  • This means the kidneys go to different recipients than initially planned for. There are two kidney transplants and two donor surgeries that take place on the same day at the same time.
  • In this program, patients receive kidneys from a living donor with an incompatible blood type. 
  • For such kidney transplants, recipients have to take several treatments or medications before and after the surgery, including plasmapheresis. 
  • Patients undergo multiple plasmapheresis treatments before the transplantation and may require more after the surgery to keep the antibody levels down. 
  • Sometimes, the doctors may also have to remove the patient’s spleens during the transplant surgery to reduce the number of immune cells.
  • This program allows kidney transplants in patients who have developed antibodies against their kidney donors, i.e. positive crossmatch.
  • It is similar to blood type-incompatible kidney transplants, as patients receive special treatment to decrease the antibody levels. 
  • It can be done through plasmapheresis, removing the antibodies from the blood. When the levels of such antibodies in the patient’s body are successfully lowered, they can then undergo the transplant procedure.

What happens during kidney transplant surgery?

Before the transplant:

  • The procedure to undergo a kidney transplant in India begins with a thorough physical evaluation, including routine blood tests and functional analysis of the heart, lungs, and liver. These tests help the doctor to decide the patient’s eligibility for the procedure.
  • The donor will also undergo a series of evaluation tests to determine their health status for donation. 
  • If the patient and the donor are fit for a kidney transplant, the doctor will discuss the possible options they have. 
  • International patients are not eligible to undergo cadaveric transplantation in India. Therefore, the only option is to find a related living donor that can be a good match. 
  • A transplant coordinator will help the patient and the donor to prepare the necessary documentation required to undergo a kidney transplant in India.
  • Patients and the donor awaiting a kidney transplant will be advised to show compliance with a few pre-op instructions, including:
  1. Undergo regular blood and organ function tests
  2. Maintain a healthy weight and diet
  3. Maintain blood hemoglobin between 10-12 g/DL
  4. Undergo dialysis as suggested by the nephrologist

During the procedure

  • The patient and the donor will be admitted to the hospital 48 hours before the scheduled date of the surgery.
  • The patient and the donor will go through a confirmatory lymphocyte crossmatch test to analyze the presence of any preformed rejection antibodies. The patient will also undergo a hemodialysis session 24 hours before the surgery and start with immunosuppressive medication. 
  • The surgery begins with placing an intravenous (IV) line along with more catheters and wires to monitor the status of the heart and blood pressure and ports to take out blood samples. A urinary catheter is also inserted into the bladder. This takes place for both the patient and the donor.
  • The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and can last for 3-4 hours.
  • The patient is positioned to lie on their back on the operating table. The anesthesiologist keeps a close watch on the breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level during the operation.
  • Firstly, the surgeon removes the donor’s kidney (preferably left side) through a laparoscopic procedure. The kidney is immediately flushed with preservatives and placed under suitable conditions.
  • Then, the surgeon moves on to making an incision in the patient’s lower abdomen, where the new kidney will be placed. 
  • The donor’s kidney is then placed into the abdomen, and usually, the patient’s damaged kidney will stay put if it is not causing any further harm. The new kidney is implanted in the right iliac fossa, allowing easy access to the ureter for connection to your bladder.
  • The surgeon will then connect the renal artery and vein of the donor’s kidney to the external iliac artery and vein with sutures. The blood flow through these vessels is immediately restored, and the connection is checked for bleeding at the suture lines.
  • The part of the donor kidney’s ureter, the tube that drains urine from the kidney, is connected to the bladder. 
  • Then, the incision is closed with stitches or surgical staples, and a tube is put in the incision site to drain the fluid and reduce swelling. The surgeon will then place a sterile bandage or dressing on the incision site.
  • Both the patient and the donor will be removed from the ventilation support post-surgery. They will be shifted to an ICU and kept under strict observation for a couple of days. The patient can expect to spend more days in the ICU and recovery ward than the donor. 

After the procedure

  • The patients are closely monitored during the post-transplant period to check their kidney functions, and look out for early signs of rejection. The medical team will adjust the various medications according to the patient’s needs.
  • As the patient is administered immunosuppressive medications, they are more prone to infections post-transplant. The transplant team keeps a constant check for the increased incidence of immunosuppression-associated effects, such as infections and cancer.

Risks and complications of kidney transplant surgery:

Some possible complications of the surgery include:

  • Bleeding/blood loss
  • Infection
  • Blockage or injury to the blood vessels connected to the new kidney
  • Urine leakage or blockage in the ureter
  • Lack of function of the new kidney 

Rejection is another complication that can occur after transplantation and up to 30% of people who receive a kidney transplant have reported having some degree of rejection. It occurs when the immune system of the recipient’s body identifies the new kidney as a foreign object and tries to destroy it. 

Most rejections are acute, occurring within six months post-surgery, but they can be chronic, occurring even years later. Early detection and treatment can reverse the rejection in most transplant cases.

Life after kidney transplant in India

A kidney transplant is often regarded as the second chance at life for patients with end-stage renal diseases. The procedure helps patients to add more years to their lives and improve their day-to-day activities. However, the results of a kidney transplant can be different for each patient. This usually depends on the type of disease and age & general health of the patient.

Recovery

  • The patient will stay under close observation and care for at least ten days in the hospital. The duration of hospital stay will depend on the severity of the patient’s condition and general health. 
  • Once the patient’s health is stabilized, the doctor will allow the patient to leave the hospital under the care of a medical attendant. 
  • The doctor will advise the patient to find temporary accommodation near the hospital for a few weeks to months after the transplant. This helps them to have better control over the anticipated risks and complications associated with a kidney transplant, including rejection. 
  • The recovery period will also require the patient to attend regular follow-ups with the doctor that can last for a few weeks, months, to even years. 

Aftercare

To make kidney transplant surgery in India successful, a patient will have to make permanent modifications in their life. These include:

  • Life-long dependence on anti-rejection medications

 Certain medications help prevent and treat rejection when the immune system attacks the new kidney. These drugs lower the immune system and prevent it from targeting the transplanted kidney. A combination of drugs is prescribed to the recipient depending on their specific transplant needs, including anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-proliferative Medications, antilymphocyte medications, and more.

  • Adhering to a healthy lifestyle

Apart from the medications, a patient needs to take on a healthy way to life post-transplant surgery. This includes sticking to a healthy diet, maintaining a good weight, staying away from smoking or drinking, and avoiding the chances of any infection.

  • Regular follow-ups

The patient’s journey to successful health doesn’t end after a kidney transplant. The patient is advised to stay in touch with their doctor, attend follow-ups, and undergo routine tests regularly. This helps the patient to keep a track of their health and manage any complications that may arise in the near future.

Kidney transplant survival rate in India

The progress in medicine and technology is helping patients with chronic kidney failure to achieve a long, comfortable, and healthy life. The success rate of kidney transplants in India is considerably high, owing to the best hospitals and surgeons in the country.

However, the results of a kidney transplant surgery may not look similar for every other patient. This mostly depends on the general health of the patient and their ability to adjust to a new lifestyle. The average survival rates observed among patients who underwent a kidney transplant in India are:

Time

Survival rate

1 year

97%

5 years

88%

10 years

80%

Dr. Surbhi Suden

Verified By Dr. Surbhi Suden

Dr. Surbhi Suden is one of the founders of Lyfboat and a doctor with a renowned name in the Medical tourism industry. She has been working with international patients since 2008 and is a deeply committed professional with a long term vision of transforming the current healthcare scenarios.

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