Kidney Transplant: What to Expect

Before surgery: The kidney transplant evaluation

Before getting a kidney transplant, you/your child must have a complete evaluation, to make sure you/your child are healthy enough to be transplanted. The results of the evaluation will be included in the decision to transplant.

Below are the components of our transplant evaluations:

• Kidney Transplant Team meeting with recipient (you/your child) and family.
• Clinic visit with transplant doctor.
• Blood tests:
  • ABO blood typing, HLA typing and antibody screen.
  • Crossmatch with a living donor, if living donor is an option.
  • Hepatitis panel and viral studies to determine existing and previous infections.
• Education with a clinical transplant coordinator.
• Urologic (kidney and bladder) evaluation, if indicated.
  • Renal (kidney) ultrasound, if native or transplant kidney(s) present.
  • Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), if indicated.
  • Urodynamics, if indicated.
  • Urology consult, if indicated.
• Immunizations.
• Pulmonary (lung) evaluation.
  • Chest X-ray.
  • Pulmonary function tests, if indicated.
  • Pulmonology consult, if indicated.
• Cardiology (heart) evaluation.
  • Echocardiogram.
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG).
  • Cardiology consult, if indicated.
• Psychological evaluation performed by a psychologist and a social worker.
• Vascular (blood vessel) evaluation.
  • Bilateral upper extremity ultrasound.
  • Inferior vena cava, iliac and aorta ultrasound.
  • Hematology consult, if indicated.
• Dental evaluation—all required dental work must be completed prior to transplant.
• Gynecological (GYN/female reproductive system) evaluation, if applicable.
• Surgery evaluation Pre-admission testing with anesthesia.
• Dietary evaluation.
• Pharmacist evaluation and education.
• Financial Coordinator.
• Additional consults-obtained per the transplant physician or transplant surgeon’s recommendations.

Once the evaluation is complete, the Kidney Transplant Team will meet and discuss the results of your/your child’s assessment. The results of the evaluation will be used to decide if transplant is the best option for you/your child at this time.

After kidney transplant surgery

A kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney failure. It is not a cure.

• A kidney transplant requires a surgery in which a person with kidney failure gets one new, healthy kidney from a donor.
• There are two types of kidney transplant donors:
• Living donor = Person voluntarily donates kidney to recipient.
• Deceased donor = Donor has died, and family approves donation of loved one’s kidneys.
• You/your child can live a healthy life with just one kidney.
• On average, a kidney transplant will last about 15 years.
• You/your child will need to take transplant medications for as long as the kidney is working.
• You/your child will likely need more than one transplant in his/her lifetime.