Kidney transplant

We focus on providing full-service care for eligible kidney transplant patients, which is why we offer:

• Living and deceased transplant surgeries
• Adult and pediatric kidney transplant
• Adult pancreas transplant
• Adult pancreas after kidney transplant

The transplant services at Medical City Healthcare focus on a collaborative approach to care as well as providing access to testing, evaluation, surgery and recovery options—all in one location.

Kidney transplant eligibility is based on a variety of factors, but these general guidelines can help you determine whether a kidney transplant may be appropriate for you.

Kidney transplant-eligible patients should:

• Be on dialysis or close to needing dialysis
• Have the ability to follow a complicated medical treatment regimen
• Have a strong family or social support system
• Not be active drug or alcohol abusers
• Not consider age or weight as barriers to transplant consideration

Our living donor advocate works directly with a potential donor and acts as the donor’s representative. The donor advocate will ensure that any potential concerns are communicated and explored prior to donation.

A living kidney donation involves the removal of a kidney from a living donor and placement into a recipient whose kidneys no longer function properly. To determine whether you are a viable candidate to donate a kidney, basic blood work and urine tests are performed at your convenience.

Once the donor and the recipient are approved for transplant, the surgery date will be set based on the request of the donor and recipient and the availability of a surgeon.

The waiting time for a deceased donor kidney can be lengthy, about an average of 5 years. Live donor transplants are the fastest and best way to receive a transplant. Wait times for a living donor transplant can be as little as 2 to 3 months.

• All medical costs for the living donor are covered by the recipient’s insurance.
• Your donor does not need to be a blood relative to donate – anyone can be a living donor.
• Your donor can live a normal, healthy life with just one kidney.
• Donating a kidney does not increase the risk of developing kidney disease. However, if the need ever arises, a previous donor can be prioritized for future transplant.

• Live donor kidneys are the best option for the intended recipient. They are the best quality kidneys and usually begins working immediately.
• In most cases, live donor kidneys function longer than deceased donor kidneys.
• Minimally invasive donor surgery with an average hospitalization stay of 1-2 nights and return to work in as little as 2 weeks.
• Live donor surgeries are scheduled, which allows both the donor and the recipient time to prepare.

Your donor should be:

• In good mental and physical health
• Free of diabetes
• Within normal blood pressure limits
• Acceptable weight
• Willing to give the gift of life

After donating a kidney, the remaining kidney will grow and maintain the daily function of two kidneys. Your life expectancy does not change and kidney donation does not increase the chance of getting kidney disease.

In addition to the resources provided at Medical City Healthcare facilities, there is an online community of support available to help you learn more about kidney transplant surgery and overall kidney health, including:

• National Kidney Foundation
• United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
• Transplant Living
• LifeGift Organ Donation Center
• Donate Life America
• American Society of Transplantation