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What is a Kidney Transplant?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A kidney transplant is a medical procedure in which a kidney is taken from a donor and surgically implanted in a recipient. Kidney transplants are used to replace failing or failed kidneys. Donor kidneys can be taken from people who have died, or from living donors who agree to give up a kidney for the good of the patient.

Most commonly, a kidney transplant is viewed as a treatment option for someone who has kidneys which are irreversibly damaged. In many cases, the patient may be undergoing dialysis on a regular basis to compensate for the fact that the kidneys are not working. Dialysis can be expensive, time-consuming, and unpleasant, making a kidney transplant an appealing alternative. Life expectancy with a donor kidney is also longer than life expectancy on dialysis, and in some instances, the patients may make a remarkable recovery, as in the case of athletes who resume professional sports after kidney transplant.

In a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney is taken from a donor and used to replace the recipient's failing kidney.
In a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney is taken from a donor and used to replace the recipient's failing kidney.

When it becomes clear that a patient needs a kidney transplant, he or she is placed on a list of people waiting for organs. This list can be bypassed with a living kidney donation or a directed donation from someone who has died. The patient will also need to take immunosuppressive drugs to prepare for transplant, so that the body will not attack the donor kidney, and extensive medical testing is used to identify the patient's blood type, ensuring that a matching donor can be found.

A living-donor can give one of their kidneys to a recipient.
A living-donor can give one of their kidneys to a recipient.

In the kidney transplant procedure, the non-functional kidneys are left in place and the new kidney is transplanted somewhere else in the abdominal cavity and connected to the veins and arteries which previously supplied the failing kidneys. A strong donor kidney will start to function almost immediately, with the patient staying in the hospital for seven to 10 days so that doctors can keep an eye on recovery. The biggest risks of kidney transplant are rejection and infection, and surgical complications can also be an issue, especially in patients who were not in peak health at the time of transplant.

Blood is often tested before a transplant to ensure compatibility between the donor and recipient.
Blood is often tested before a transplant to ensure compatibility between the donor and recipient.

After transplant, the patient must continue to take medications to prevent rejection. This makes the recipient more prone to infection, because these medications keep the immune system at bay. Patients also need to keep an eye on urine output, to make sure that the donor kidney is functioning well, and they are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and exercise to promote kidney health.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Wisedly33

I'm so glad transplant technology has progressed as far as it has. Kidney transplants usually have a high rate of success and they also last many, many years. I know the recipient still has to be on the anti-rejection medication, but the prognosis is so much better now than it used to be.

I'm told that a kidney transplant usually has rapid results in improving the recipient's health and they feel better almost immediately.

Blessings to all who agree to be living donors, and those who sign their donor cards and give the gift of life after they have passed away. They do a valuable service for humanity in their unselfishness.

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    • In a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney is taken from a donor and used to replace the recipient's failing kidney.
      By: zurbagan
      In a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney is taken from a donor and used to replace the recipient's failing kidney.
    • A living-donor can give one of their kidneys to a recipient.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      A living-donor can give one of their kidneys to a recipient.
    • Blood is often tested before a transplant to ensure compatibility between the donor and recipient.
      By: Alexander Gospodinov
      Blood is often tested before a transplant to ensure compatibility between the donor and recipient.
    • Dialysis is often performed before a kidney transplant takes place.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Dialysis is often performed before a kidney transplant takes place.
    • During any organ transplant, there is always a risk that the patient's body might reject the new organ.
      By: RioPatuca Images
      During any organ transplant, there is always a risk that the patient's body might reject the new organ.