A kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney from a donor into a person whose own kidneys have failed. For many people with kidney failure, a transplant offers a longer life, more energy, and more freedom than dialysis, with fewer limits on diet and travel.
Living and deceased donors
- Living donor: a healthy person, often a family member or friend, donates one kidney. A person can live a normal life with one healthy kidney. Living donor kidneys tend to last longer, and the surgery can be scheduled ahead of time.
- Deceased donor: a kidney comes from someone who has died and chose to be an organ donor. Most people wait on a national waiting list for this type of kidney, sometimes for several years.
When to start the process
You do not have to be on dialysis to be evaluated. Many people can be referred to a transplant center when their eGFR falls to about 20 or below. Starting early can make it possible to get a transplant before dialysis is ever needed, called a preemptive transplant, and time on the waiting list can begin to count.
The evaluation
A transplant center checks that a transplant is safe and likely to succeed for you. This usually includes blood and urine tests, heart testing, age-appropriate cancer screening, a dental check, and meetings with a social worker and financial counselor. Dr. Salim works with transplant centers in Arizona to coordinate your referral and keep your records up to date.
Life after transplant
- Anti-rejection medicines are needed every day for as long as the kidney works. Never skip or stop them.
- Frequent lab tests are needed in the first months, then less often.
- Protect yourself from infection and use sunscreen, because these medicines raise the risk of infections and skin cancer.
- Keep up with blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol care to protect the new kidney and your heart.
Call your transplant team right away for fever, pain over the new kidney, less urine, sudden weight gain, or swelling.
These can be signs of rejection or infection.Questions to ask at your visit
- Am I a candidate for a kidney transplant?
- When should I be referred for an evaluation?
- How can I find a living donor?
- Which transplant center is right for me?
This guide is general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with Dr. Salim or your care team about your own situation. Informed by patient materials from the National Kidney Foundation; learn more at kidney.org.