Quality of life after renal transplantation

End stage renal disease (ESRD) inevitably reduces the life-span of its victims. The treatment of choice for many patients is transplantation but this does not effect a cure. Its aim is to improve renal function and thus to enhance the patient's ability to enjoy as full a life as possible. However, surprisingly little research has been concerned with quality of life after transplantation. A small-scale, exploratory study employing a qualitative design was undertaken to compare stress and quality of life between five patients with ESRD awaiting transplantation and five patients who had received a graft within the previous 6 months. The desire to undergo transplantation was fuelled by patients' perceived need to 'get off dialysis' and to 'lead a normal life'. All patients had received abundant technical information about renal transplantation and pre-operative preparation but information concerning the negative effects of transplantation, including the side-effects of medication appeared lacking. It was not possible to determine whether this information had not been supplied or had been offered but forgotten or denied. For pre-transplantation patients the main sources of stress were the need to undergo dialysis, awaiting the summons to hospital and the social isolation imposed by having a chronic condition such as constant fatigue. Post-transplantation patients were remarkably free of anxiety considering the impositions placed upon them by frequent clinic attendance to monitor their condition. Quality of life improved dramatically after transplantation despite the persistence of renal symptoms and patients felt privileged to have been offered this treatment option.