Transplant Evaluation, Surgery and Recovery

Following are some questions that kidney patients frequently ask when considering transplant as a treatment option:

Who is eligible to get a transplant? All patients who have failing kidneys or who are on dialysis should talk to a doctor to see if they are eligible for transplant. Patients with diabetes and high blood pressure get transplants all the time. Older patients, even into their 80s, can get transplants if they are healthy. Patients may be ineligible for transplant if they have cancer or serious heart disease.

What kind of medical tests do recipients have to take to be evaluated? Doctors check the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and lung function, and take blood and urine samples. Some patients may have to check the fitness of their heart with a stress test. Women have a Pap smear and mammogram, while patients over 50 years of age need a colonoscopy. All of these tests can be done on an outpatient basis and are scheduled when it works best for the patient.

How much do recipients pay for testing and surgery? Most recipients pay nothing for the medical tests and surgery because these costs are covered by Medicare and/or the recipient’s private insurance. Recipients might have to take vacation time from work or pay for childcare, gas, meals, parking, or hotel costs. Financial coordinators at the Transplant Center answer all insurance and cost questions before the transplant.

How long does transplant evaluation take? The recipient’s evaluation can take several months to 1 year to complete, depending on the health of the recipient and how quickly the tests can be scheduled. Any serious health problems will need to be cleared up before a transplant can happen.

What is transplant surgery like? The recipient is often admitted to the hospital the day before surgery. Before surgery, the patient may have medical tests and dialysis. During surgery, the surgeon makes a small cut in the recipient’s belly and connects the new kidney to the bladder, close to the hip. Surgeons do not remove the failed kidneys. For many patients, the new kidney starts making urine during the operation.

What is recovery like after transplant and how long does it take? Patients stay in the hospital generally for a few days to 1 week. Over time, patients start to feel better and are able to do more. Most recipients can drive and return to their normal lives in 1 month.

How bad is surgical pain? Recipients usually feel the most pain the first week after surgery. Medication is prescribed for any pain they have. However, the pain is usually gone or greatly reduced within 1 week.

What happens after the transplant? A transplant is not a cure for kidney disease. Patients still need to take medicine and see their doctors after the transplant. Patients take medicine to prevent the kidney from failing and to stop infection. Patients also have their kidney function and blood pressure checked regularly. The transplant team explains everything that will need to be done before patients leave the hospital.