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Kidney Transplant Process

For Referring Physicians Transfers, referrals and consultations

Kidney transplantation is a surgical procedure performed to restore kidney function in people whose own kidneys are too diseased to function — also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Depend on UC San Diego Health’s kidney transplant program, led by highly skilled surgeons and nephrologists who specialize in treating kidney diseases and performing transplants. We are committed to providing top-quality, customized care for patients and potential live donors.

Our transplant outcomes exceed national averages, placing us among the best transplant centers.

Health Screening for Transplant

End-stage kidney disease can be caused by many conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, polycystic kidney disease, inherited kidney disease, autoimmune disease and urologic disease.

Once you decide that you want a kidney transplant, the next step is getting a referral from your physician. Then you will undergo an extensive health screening with our transplant team. This evaluation will help us determine the best treatment for you. Screening may include:

X-rays
Blood and tissue typing
Urine test
CT scan
Ultrasounds scan
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Nutritional evaluation
Psychosocial and psychological testing

At that time, our financial coordinator will review your insurance, transplant benefits and help plan your post-transplant medication needs.

Getting On the Organ Transplant Waiting List

After receiving approval for transplantation, newly evaluated patients are added to the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)'s deceased kidney waiting list. Blood type, length of time on the waiting lists, and organ size are all considered when matching organs and recipients.

Types of Donor Kidney Transplants

More than 100,000 people were on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in the United States, according to the National Kidney Foundation. The average wait time for a kidney from a deceased donor can be at least 3.6 years.

Kidneys can come from either deceased or living donors. Because of the shortage of deceased donors, more and more people are considering living donors.

Types of donor kidney transplant:

Deceased donor kidney transplant
A deceased kidney donation comes from a donor who is diagnosed as “brain dead” but whose other organs are functioning. Our Center for Transplantation tests the functionality of deceased-donor kidneys through high-end technology before the kidneys are transplanted into recipients.
Living donor kidney transplant
A living transplant comes from a living donor, such as a family member or friend, who donates one of their kidneys. A living kidney donor eliminates the need to wait for a compatible deceased donor and results in improved long-term function of the transplanted kidney. Our kidney transplant team specializes in robot-assisted donor nephrectomy (kidney removal), a minimally invasive procedure that reduces the size of the incision for the removal of the donor kidney and speeds up recovery time for the donor. Discover more about living kidney donation.
Paired kidney transplantation
A form of living donation, paired kidney transplant allows donors who are not blood- or tissue-compatible with their recipient to "exchange" their kidney with a donor who is compatible. This enables two recipients to receive organs with matched blood types. As part of the National Kidney Registry’s Paired Exchange Program, our team is able to perform this unique form of living kidney donor transplantation.

Paying for Your Transplant

Rely on our financial coordinator to help you with every financial aspect of your transplant surgery. UC San Diego Health accepts most major insurance plans for transplant services.

View Transplant Plans Accepted

Classes & Support Groups for Kidney Transplant Patients

Join our complimentary classes and/or support groups to learn about the kidney transplant process, ask questions and share your experiences with other transplant patients.

Get support

Kidney Transplant Surgery and Recovery

Kidney transplantation is performed under general anesthesia and the average operating time is three hours. In most cases, the existing kidneys and ureter are not disturbed. The donated kidney is placed in a different location (in the front of the lower abdomen and pelvis) and is surgically attached to the vessels that take blood to the leg.

Recovery may take one to two weeks, and resuming normal activities may take up to a year. Quality of life usually improves dramatically and most people are able to lead healthy lives. However, there is still some risk of rejection, infection or cancer, so close monitoring of kidney function during this time is critical.

Rejection of a transplanted kidney occurs when the body identifies the organ as a foreign object. Up to 30 percent of people experience rejection to some degree. Most cases of rejection occur within the first six months following transplantation.

Anti-rejection medications, also known as immunosuppressive agents, are used to prevent and treat transplant organ rejection. These medications must be taken for life. Find out more about care after kidney transplantation.

Living Kidney Donation

Tens of thousands of people are on the waiting list each year for a kidney transplant in the United States. By volunteering to be a living kidney donor, you can give a healthy kidney to a person who needs one. All potential donors are medically screened to protect their health and safety. Discover more about living kidney donation.

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Support Our Patient Assistance Fund

Donations are vital in helping kidney transplant recipients and living kidney donors as well as their families. Your financial gift is deeply appreciated!

Give now to the abdominal transplant support fund or the Brian Underwood endowed fund.