Kidney transplant

Alternative names:

renal transplant; transplant of the kidney

Expectations after surgery:

Kidney transplants require life-long treatment with medications that suppress the immune response (immunosuppressive therapy). Transplants from a blood-related living donor are considered a slightly better risk (in terms of avoiding rejection) than from a cadaver (nonliving donor). Between 80% and 90% of transplanted kidneys are functioning two years after the operation. The main problem (as with other transplants) is graft rejection.

The patient is encouraged to resume normal activities as soon as possible after surgery.

The major obstacle for kidney transplants is the problem in finding a donor, fighting the rejection effect, and cost.

Convalescence:

The recovery period averages 1 month. The average hospital stay is 1 week. The sutures or clips are removed about one week after surgery. Move the legs often to reduce the risk of deep venous thrombosis.