Serum creatinine level is the most crucial test the nurse should look for to see if a kidney transplant is working. One regularly used indicator of renal function is serum creatinine. Serum creatinine levels that are elevated suggest either impaired kidney function or renal damage. Serum creatinine monitoring aids in evaluating transplanted kidney function and identifying any indications of rejection or malfunction.
The risk of organ rejection following transplantation can be enhanced in patients with elevated levels or greater activity of natural killer cells and cytotoxic/cytolytic T-cells, as they may target the donated organ. Consequently, in order to avoid rejection, patients with such immunological profiles might need to be excluded or receive additional immunosuppressive treatment.
After a kidney transplant, the most important safety measure for a patient is to be on the lookout for fungal and bacterial infections. Immunosuppressive medications, which lower immune function and increase the risk of infection, are used to stop rejection. Constant observation aids in early detection and resolution of issues.
In the event that the transplanted heart is rejected during surgery, hyperacute rejection is most likely to occur. Hyperacute rejection is a kind of transplant rejection that happens quickly and severely; it usually happens minutes to hours after the transplant. Pre-existing antibodies in the recipient's blood that attack the transplanted organ are usually the culprit, resulting in quick and extensive destruction.
The host's immune system initiates inflammation and immunologic responses to eliminate nonself cells when transplant rejection takes place. Several immune cells and pathways are activated during this response, which results in an immunological-mediated attack on the transplanted organ.
The nurse should prioritize assessing for decreased urine output when there is a creatinine level of 3.1 mg/dL during the postoperative period following kidney transplant surgery. Elevated creatinine levels can indicate decreased kidney function, and assessing urine output can provide valuable information about kidney function and potential complications like acute kidney injury or transplant rejection.
For the first 48 hours following kidney transplant surgery, urine output monitoring should be extended to every hour to ensure early detection of problems, which is crucial during the high-risk phase. Regular evaluations aid in the timely identification of problems, maximizing graft performance and reducing complications.
Organ biopsies to identify compromised functionality.
If a patient has gradually decreasing function of a donated kidney five years after transplant, then contemplating retransplantation and looking for a related living donor is also a suitable strategy. This approach may enhance the patient's quality of life and kidney function by giving them the chance to receive a new kidney to replace the failing one.
Perfusion is the key idea behind the problem of abruptly decreased urine flow following kidney transplant surgery, which is thought to be caused by thrombosis. This is a reference to blood flow via the kidney transplant. Thrombosis may impair renal blood flow, which may result in harm. Thus, it is essential to make sure the transplanted kidney receives enough blood flow.
An abrupt decrease in urine production is the most alarming result within the first 12 hours following kidney transplant surgery and should alert the transplant surgeon right away. This can be a sign of serious problems like acute rejection or renal artery thrombosis, which need to be treated right away to save the transplanted kidney from suffering additional harm. Thus, it is imperative that the surgeon be notified as soon as possible in this case.
