To gain some perspective on this procedure, the suture that is used is finer than a human hair. The ureter is attached to the bladder so that urine will drain into its proper place. Survival rates will decrease as the patient becomes more debilitated. Longer term complications primarily involve acute graft rejection and the potential for infections. As mentioned above, chronic graft rejection may result in recurrence of renal failure in some cats after several years.
Rejection is monitored by weekly examinations for the first month after transplantation.
After the first 4 weeks the interval between exams may be gradually extended to one month or more. Rejection of the transplanted kidney is most common in the first month and will be accompanied by malaise, vomiting, and depression and is confirmed by laboratory blood testing. Rejection must be recognized and treated immediately to prevent destruction of the transplanted kidney. Treatment of rejection requires immediate hospitalization with fluid therapy and intravenous cyclosporine A and steroid therapy. When the rejection episode is controlled, oral cyclosporine A treatment is reinstated at a higher dose level.