Department of Surgery
Division of Solid Organ Transplantation
Procedures
Kidney Transplant Surgery
The Transplant Process - Transplant Surgery
Guide to Kidney Transplant |
You’ll be contacted when a kidney is available. If your new kidney is from a living donor, both you and the donor will be in surgery at the same time. One team of surgeons will do the nephrectomy (removing the kidney from the donor), while another prepares you to receive the donated kidney.
If your new kidney is from a person who has recently died, your surgery starts when it arrives at the hospital and the results of the cross-match test, described above, are negative (satisfactory).
The surgery can take from 3 to 4 hours or more. You will be given general anesthesia. Your surgeon makes an incision in your lower abdomen and puts the new kidney in place. Then the surgeon connects the artery and vein of the new kidney to your own artery and vein. Your blood will then flow through the new kidney. The ureter from the new kidney will be connected to your bladder. Often, the new kidney will start making urine as soon as your blood starts flowing through it, but sometimes a few weeks pass before it starts working. Unless they are causing infection or high blood pressure, your own kidneys are left in place.
A Note on Deceased Organ Procurement
When a deceased organ becomes available, a team of surgeons and anesthesiologists removes it from the donor. Although the donor is brain dead, this procedure is treated like any other operation using standard surgical practices and sterile techniques. When the operation is complete and the incisions are closed, the donor's body is prepared for funeral or cremation. Organ procurement surgery respects the body and an open casket funeral is possible if desired.