When a suitable donor kidney is found, the transplant centre will contact you. It will check no new medical problems have occurred and will ask you to go to the centre.
When you hear from the transplant centre:
- do not eat or drink anything
- take all current medicines with you
- take a bag of clothes and essential items for your hospital stay
When you arrive at the transplant centre, you will be quickly reassessed. Some of the tests you had at your initial assessment may be repeated to ensure no new medical conditions have developed.
At the same time, a second medical team will examine the donor kidney if the kidney was taken from a recently deceased donor. (If the donation is being provided by a living donor then these tests are carried out well in advance of the surgery.)
The procedure must be carried out as quickly as possible for the transplant to have the best chance of success. After the medical team has confirmed the kidney is in good condition and is suitable, you will be given the general anaesthetic.
Surgery
A number of different methods can be used to carry out a kidney transplant. The most widely used method is known as a Gibson incision.
A Gibson incision involves a three-stage procedure:
- First, an incision (cut) is made in your lower abdomen (stomach), through which the donated kidney is put into place. Your own kidneys can usually be left where they are, unless they are causing a problem, such as an infection.
- Second, blood vessels from your lower abdomen are attached to the blood vessels of the donated kidney. This is to provide the donated kidney with the blood supply that it needs to function properly.
- Finally, the ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder) of the donated kidney is connected to your bladder.
While the above procedure may sound relatively straightforward, it is demanding and complex surgery that usually takes three to four hours to complete.
After surgery
Once you have recovered from the effects of the anaesthetic, it is likely you will feel some pain at the site of the incision. If you are in pain, painkillers will be provided.
After the operation, you will immediately begin treatment with medication designed to prevent your immune system from rejecting your new kidney.
These types of medication are known as immunosuppressants. See living with a kidney donation for more information about immunosuppressants.
In around seven out of 10 people who have a kidney transplant, their new kidney begins working immediately after surgery. However, transplanted kidneys sometimes take up to six weeks to start working. If this is the case, you will need to use dialysis during this time.
Dialysis involves using a mechanical device to replicate the functions of the kidney.
Most people are fit enough to leave hospital after having kidney surgery, but you will need to attend frequent appointments at the transplant centre so your kidney function can be assessed.
Tests are also used to check how well your immunosuppressants are working.
For the first few weeks after surgery, you may need to have two to three appointments a week. However, over time, your appointments will become less frequent. After a year, as long as you do not have any serious problems, you should only have to attend the centre once every two to three months.
After kidney surgery, you should be able to return to work and normal activities within a few months, provided you make good progress.
