Kidney transplant

Definition

A kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney into a person with kidney failure.

Alternative Names

Renal transplant; Transplant - kidney

Description

Kidney transplants are one of the most common transplant operations in the United States.

One donated kidney is needed to replace the work previously done by your kidneys.

The donated kidney may be from:

• Living related donor -- related to the recipient, such as a parent, sibling, or child
• Living unrelated donor -- such as a friend or spouse
• Deceased donor -- a person who has recently died and who has no known chronic kidney disease

The healthy kidney is transported in cool salt water (saline) that preserves the organ for up to 48 hours. This gives the health care providers time to perform tests that match the donor's and recipient's blood and tissue before the operation.

PROCEDURE FOR A LIVING KIDNEY DONOR

If you are donating a kidney, you will be placed under general anesthesia before surgery. This means you will be asleep and pain-free. The procedure used to require a long surgical cut. However, today surgeons can use a short surgical cut (mini-nephrectomy) or laparoscopic techniques. See Kidney removal for more information.

PROCEDURE FOR THE KIDNEY RECIPIENT

People receiving a kidney transplant are given general anesthesia before surgery. The surgeon makes a cut in the lower belly area.

• Your surgeon places the new kidney inside your lower belly. The artery and vein of the new kidney are connected to the artery and vein in your pelvis. Your blood flows through the new kidney, which makes urine just like your own kidneys did when they were healthy. The tube that carries urine (ureter) is then attached to your bladder.
• Your own kidneys are left in place, unless they are causing high blood pressure, infections, or are too large for your body. The wound is then closed.

Kidney transplant surgery takes about 3 hours. People with diabetes may also have a pancreas transplant done at the same time. This will usually add another 3 hours to the surgery.

See also: Pancreas transplant

Risks

The risks for any anesthesia are:

• Problems breathing
• Reactions to medications

• Bleeding
• Infection

Other risks related to the procedure include:

• Blood clots (deep venous thrombosis)
• Heart attack or stroke
• Wound infections
• Side effects from medications used to prevent transplant rejection, including:
  • Increased risk for infections
  • Damage to your liver or other organs