Kidney transplant
VIDEO: Learn about kidney transplants
A kidney transplant is when a new kidney is put into the lower part of the abdomen next to your actual kidney.
Who is it for?
Together, you and your doctors will decide which treatment is best for you. It depends on your medical history, health status, and personal situation. Some patients have a kidney transplant after starting dialysis. Others get a kidney transplant without ever having dialysis.
Not everyone is eligible for a kidney transplant. Once your nephrologist refers you to the transplant clinic, you will be submitted to many physical evaluations with different specialties (cardiology, social, blood test, etc).
What is a nephrologist?
A nephrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys.
Different types of kidney transplant
They are two kinds of kidney transplants:
- transplant from a living donor (usually a healthy relative of the recipient)
- a non-living (or deceased) donor transplant.
Living donor transplantation
- the patient receives a kidney from someone who is still alive.
One healthy kidney can do the necessary work that the patient’s two failed kidneys cannot, so both the recipient and the living donor can resume/continue an active life with one healthy kidney each.
A living donor is usually a relative or close friend of the transplant recipient. In some cases, however, a kidney can come from a stranger who wanted to help someone else. These individuals are called ‘unspecified’ donors.
Non-living (or deceased) donor transplant
- is possible when a dying person has been identified as ‘organ donor,’ provided their organ(s) are still functioning after death has been declared
To receive a deceased (non-live) donor transplant, patients in need of a new kidney must have been thoroughly evaluated by the nephrology and surgical teams and their name put on the waiting list until a suitable donor kidney becomes available.
Where can I learn more?
Ask your nurse or your nephrologist for more info.
