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Kidney Transplant Process

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Kidney transplantation is a surgical treatment for people with severe kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

During the procedure, a healthy donor kidney is transplanted to restore kidney function and improve quality of life. Turn to UC San Diego Health's kidney transplant program, led by experienced surgeons and nephrologists who specialize in treating kidney diseases and performing transplants. We are committed to providing personalized, high-quality care for patients and living donors.

Our transplant outcomes rank above national averages, placing us among the best transplant centers in the nation.

Am I a Candidate for a Kidney Transplant?

Kidney transplantation can be an effective treatment option for advanced or end-stage kidney disease, which can be caused by many conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, polycystic kidney disease, inherited kidney disease, autoimmune diseases and urologic disorders.

You may be considered for evaluation if you meet one or both of the following conditions:

You have chronic kidney disease or ESRD with significantly reduced kidney function, as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or creatinine clearance (CrCl).
You are approaching the need for dialysis or are currently receiving dialysis treatment.

When a Kidney Transplant May Not Be the Best Option

Meeting the eligibility criteria doesn't automatically qualify you for a kidney transplant. You may not be eligible if you have certain conditions that could affect the success of the transplant or recovery process. These include:

Active cancer or serious infection that persists despite treatment
Active stomach ulcer
Severe heart or blood vessel disease that cannot be treated
Ongoing drug or alcohol abuse
Medical, psychological or social challenges that may prevent you from safely following the treatment plan and taking transplant medications after transplant
Other serious health conditions that could increase the risk of complications after transplant

Every patient is evaluated individually, and our team works closely with you to determine the safest and most appropriate treatment options for your needs.

What Happens Next

Once your doctor determines that you need a kidney transplant, the next step is getting a referral for a comprehensive evaluation by the UC San Diego Health transplant team.

During this process, we assess your overall health and any possible risk factors to help ensure that your transplant is a success. We review your medical history, family history, social and psychological health, and overall physical condition. You may also undergo lab tests, imaging studies and consultations with specialists as needed. The evaluation may take several days to complete.

Your health screening may include:

X-rays
Blood and tissue typing
Urine tests
CT scan
Ultrasound scan
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Nutritional assessment
Psychosocial and psychological evaluations

During this process, our financial coordinator will review your insurance, explain your transplant benefits and help you plan for your post-transplant medication needs.

IOTA: Increasing Access to Kidney Transplants

UC San Diego Health's Center for Transplantation participates in the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model, a national program developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The program is designed to help increase access to kidney transplantation for people with end-stage kidney disease while improving the quality of care and reducing overall Medicare costs. Learn more:

IOTA patient notice (English PDF)
IOTA patient notice (Spanish PDF)
Overview of the IOTA model

Getting On the Organ Transplant Waiting List

After receiving approval for transplantation, newly evaluated patients are added to the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) deceased donor kidney waiting list. Blood type, time on the waiting list and organ size are all considered when matching organs and recipients.

Types of Donor Kidney Transplants

More than 90,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in the United States, according to the National Kidney Foundation. The average wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor can be three to five years.

Kidneys can come from either deceased or living donors. Because of the shortage of deceased donors, more and more people are considering living donors.

Types of donor kidney transplant:

Deceased donor kidney transplant
A deceased kidney donation comes from a donor who is diagnosed as "brain dead" but whose other organs are functioning. Our Center for Transplantation tests the function of deceased-donor kidneys using advanced technology before the kidneys are transplanted into recipients.
Living donor kidney transplant
A living transplant comes from a living donor, such as a family member or friend, who donates one of their kidneys. A living kidney donor eliminates the need to wait for a compatible deceased donor and improves the long-term function of the transplanted kidney. Our kidney transplant team specializes in robot-assisted donor nephrectomy (kidney removal), a minimally invasive procedure that reduces the size of the incision for the removal of the donor kidney and speeds up recovery time for the donor. Discover more about living kidney donation.
Paired kidney transplantation
A form of living donation, paired kidney transplant allows donors who are not blood- or tissue-compatible with their recipient to "exchange" their kidney with a compatible donor. This enables two recipients to receive organs with matched blood types. As part of the National Kidney Registry's Paired Exchange Program, our team is able to perform this unique form of living kidney donor transplantation.

Paying for Your Transplant

Rely on our financial coordinator to help you with every financial aspect of your transplant surgery. UC San Diego Health accepts most major insurance plans for transplant services.

View Transplant Plans Accepted

Classes & Support Groups for Kidney Transplant Patients

Join our complimentary classes and/or support groups to learn about the kidney transplant process, ask questions and share your experiences with other transplant patients.

Get support

Kidney Transplant Surgery and Recovery

Kidney transplantation is performed under general anesthesia, and the average operating time is three hours. In most cases, the existing kidneys and ureter are not disturbed. The donated kidney is placed in a different location (in the front of the lower abdomen and pelvis) and is surgically attached to the vessels that take blood to the leg.

Recovery may take one to two weeks, and resuming normal activities may take up to a year. Quality of life usually improves dramatically, and most people are able to lead healthy lives. However, there is still some risk of rejection, infection or cancer, so close monitoring of kidney function during this time is critical.

Rejection of a transplanted kidney occurs when the body identifies the organ as a foreign object. Up to 30% of people experience some degree of rejection. Most cases of rejection occur within the first six months following transplantation.

Anti-rejection medications, also known as immunosuppressive agents, are used to prevent and treat transplant organ rejection. These medications must be taken for life.

Living Kidney Donation

Tens of thousands of people are on the waiting list each year for a kidney transplant in the United States. By volunteering to be a living kidney donor, you can give a healthy kidney to a person who needs one. All potential donors are medically screened to protect their health and safety. Discover more about living kidney donation.

Give the Gift of Life