Kidney Transplant Process
Kidney transplantation is a surgery done to replace the function of kidneys in people with severe kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
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.
Health Screening for Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation can be an effective treatment option for 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.
Once it's determined that you need a kidney transplant, the next step is getting a referral from your physician. Then you will undergo a thorough health screening by our transplant team to help determine the best treatment plan for you. The 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.
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)'s deceased kidney waiting list. Blood type, length of time on the waiting lists, and organ size are all considered when matching organs and recipients.
Types of Donor Kidney Transplants
More than 100,000 people were 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 at least 3.6 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 functionality of deceased-donor kidneys through high-end 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 results in improved 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 donor who is compatible. 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.
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 percent of people experience rejection to some degree. 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.
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