Kidney Transplant

A kidney transplant, or a renal transplant, is a treatment for kidney failure at end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Kidney transplant surgery is a major surgery during which a person with kidney failure receives a new kidney, either from a living donor or a deceased donor.

How and why is it done?

Living donors can be family members, parents, children (18 years or older), or a spouse or close friend who may wish to donate a kidney. The donor must be in excellent health, well informed about transplantation, and able to give informed consent. Any healthy person can donate a kidney safely. A deceased donor kidney comes from a person who has suffered brain death. After permission for donation is granted, the kidneys are removed and stored until a recipient has been selected.

Regardless of the type of kidney transplant-living donor or deceased donor-special blood tests are needed to find out what type of blood and tissue is present. These test results help to match a donor's kidney to the recipient. The average lifespan of a transplanted kidney is 12-15 years, though some transplants last longer.