A renal transplant (also called a kidney transplant) is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a donor is placed into a person whose kidneys have failed or are no longer functioning properly. This is typically a treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or chronic kidney failure.
Remove waste and excess fluids from the body
Balance electrolytes
Regulate blood pressure
Make important hormones like erythropoietin (which stimulates red blood cell production)
Patients with ESRD need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. A transplant is generally considered the best long-term treatment because it can restore more normal kidney function and improve quality of life.
Living donor: A healthy person (usually a family member, friend, or altruistic donor) donates one of their kidneys.
Deceased donor: A kidney is taken from someone who has died and whose family has agreed to organ donation.
The donor kidney is usually placed in the lower abdomen (pelvic area), and the recipient’s own kidneys are usually not removed unless there's a medical reason to do so.
The new kidney is connected to the recipient’s blood vessels and bladder.
After surgery, the recipient takes immunosuppressive medications for life to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ.