What to Expect
Our multi-disciplinary team of experts provides comprehensive care during every stage of kidney transplant—from diagnosis through recovery. The process of receiving a transplant can be overwhelming and we understand you will have many questions and concerns. We have been at the forefront of kidney transplantation for over 6 decades and we are always available to help you through the process and provide you with all the information you need.
Evaluation & Education
The first step in the kidney transplant process is to undergo an evaluation to make sure that transplant is the best option for you. During your evaluation, you will meet with multiple team members, including a transplant surgeon, transplant coordinator and social worker, who will provide you further resources to help you understand the details of your surgery. Your doctor will order blood tests to check your heart and other organs, as well as evaluate your mental and emotional health. This helps ensure that you’re prepared for your recovery—with a solid support system in place. If you are being considered for a living donor transplant, our transplant team will also test the donor’s blood against yours, a process called cross-matching, to help predict whether your body’s immune system will accept the new kidney.
How We Minimize Wait Times
The wait time for kidney transplants can be very long since the demand for kidneys far exceeds the number of organs donated in the U.S., which we strive to minimize by aggressively pursuing all possible organ donors. In addition we strongly advocate for the living donor option, which is often associated with a shorter wait before transplant and the best survival. For patients with identified live donors that are incompatible, our team can help the patient identify potential live donors in their community or through national organizations like NKR (National Kidney Registry).
Placement on the Organ Donor List
Once it is determined that you are a candidate for kidney transplantation, you are placed on the national waiting list for a deceased donor organ. Placement on the waiting list is prioritized by factors determined by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) including blood type, distance between you and the donor organ, size of the donor kidney, and severity of your condition. You may reach out to UNOS with any questions by calling 1-888-894-6361 or by visiting UNOS.org.
Transplant Surgery
Kidney transplant surgery typically takes three to four hours. Your surgeon transplants the new kidney into the lower abdomen near the groin, while your own kidneys are typically left in place. If you are on the waiting list for a donor kidney, you will have your surgery as soon as the donor kidney arrives at the hospital. If you are receiving a donation from a living kidney donor, the surgery will be scheduled in advance. Kidney recipients typically stay in the hospital for three to four days and are then followed closely by the multidisciplinary kidney transplant team.
Learn more about living organ donation at Montefiore Einstein.
Understanding the Risks
Kidney transplant surgery carries several risks: the donated kidney may function right away or may take up to several weeks to generate urine. If so, the patient will need dialysis treatment to filter waste, extra salt and fluid from the body while it recovers from transplant surgery. Other complications may include:
- Bleeding
- Infection, particularly of the bladder
- Hernia
- Pain or numbness along the inner thigh that usually subsides with treatment
Recovery and After-Care
Receiving a kidney transplant requires lifelong follow-up care. Throughout your recovery and as you return to daily activity, our transplant team will monitor you closely to ensure postoperative success.
During the first year, you will be seen regularly for lab work and routine evaluation. These tests help determine how well your kidney is functioning. As you continue to recover, our physicians will provide comprehensive, continuous care to help return you to optimal quality of life.
