logo

Renal transplant



NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

'I had finally got my life back'

Double kidney transplant recipient Riminder Dosanjh spent four years waiting for a transplant with no kidneys in her body at all.

“I was totally dependent on a dialysis machine for four years, just waiting and hoping every day for a new kidney,” says Riminder.

“It was a terrible feeling to know that I had no kidney at all in my body and that I was 100% dependent on a machine to keep me alive. I was on the machine three times a week. It was horrible, really tough.”

Riminder, a community health project worker, had her first kidney transplant when she was just four years old, after her own kidneys failed. But 14 years later, the transplanted organ also failed and had to be removed.

Riminder’s natural kidneys, which were originally left in her body, were also removed to reduce dangerously high blood pressure. She was without any kidneys and totally dependent on a machine for life.

“Dialysis was dreadful after I had grown up through a perfectly normal childhood with a transplanted kidney. I had never prepared myself for my new kidney letting me down. I had been given a gift, but it had been snatched away.”

In January 1997, Riminder was placed on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. She began to count the days until an organ would become available for her. Her family watched with ever-growing concern as complication after complication arose with her life-preserving dialysis treatment.

“I was getting some pretty serious complications with my dialysis. My veins were not strong enough and doctors had run out of space on my arm to link me to the dialysis machine. The treatment wasn’t working properly at all and I was becoming desperate for a transplant,” she said.

“This made me even more determined to get on with my life, to carry on working and make people accept me for who I am. I didn’t want to be known as the one who was ill.

“I was hooked up to the machine one day and a doctor came and asked me whether I wanted a new kidney. I was whisked off to Hammersmith Hospital and woke up with a new kidney and a new life. But it didn’t hit me until much later that I had finally got my life back.”

That was in December 2000, and Riminder’s life has improved ever since. Now fully fit, she works as a development officer and is active in promoting organ donation.

She says: “I can’t express how grateful I am to the donor. I only know that it was a 55-year-old man. I’d like to know more but that’s all the family want me to know, which is OK.

“I would love more Asian people to sign up to be organ donors to save people like me.”

Published Date
2014-07-11 13:44:47Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Donation (blood or organ),Kidney,Kidney transplant,Transplantation


NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

'I was a bag of emotions, both thrilled and terrified'

Ivy Ashworth-Crees talks about how much better her life is since her double kidney and pancreas transplant.

“About 32 years ago, I started to have diabetes and had to have insulin injections four times a day. I also had to work hard on my diet to make sure I didn’t eat too much sweet food.

“After about 25 years, I got kidney failure and, in 2003, I had to go on kidney dialysis. The kidney dialysis was very uncomfortable. It was a drain, having to do it four times a day, as well as having to have the diabetes injections four times a day. I felt like my life was on hold.

“I was on kidney dialysis for two years when they put me on the list to have a kidney transplant. The surgeon suggested that I could probably benefit from a kidney and a pancreas transplant, which meant I wouldn’t be a diabetic any more.

“When I got the phone call to say that I was going to Manchester for the transplant, I was absolutely hysterical. I was a bag of emotions, both thrilled and terrified.

“When I came round after the operation, I was in intensive care. I stayed there for about three or four days, then I was taken to the main ward.

“The most difficult part was getting out of bed and starting to walk. They walked me up and down the ward for weeks until my legs got strong enough. That was very, very difficult. The pain was very bad, but it’s all been worth it.

“The doctor asked me to try to reduce my weight, so I joined the gym. I enjoy swimming. I think it’s helping me to keep active. The only problem is that I can’t walk too far.

“It’s vital that I take the immunosuppressant drugs. If I don’t, my body could reject the kidney and pancreas. I have to take them for the rest of my life.

“My life’s changed dramatically. I now take it for granted that I can eat what I want, including chocolates! I’m back at work, I don’t have an injection after my meals, I don’t have to rush home for dialysis and my kidneys and pancreas are working well.

“I feel blessed that I’ve been through this operation and it’s worked so well.”

Related Videos (Embedded)

  • <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"
    src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script>
    <object id="myExperience" class="BrightcoveExperience" title="Kidney and pancreas double transplant: Ivy's story – Video">
    <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
    <param name="width" value="400" />
    <param name="height" value="265" />
    <param name="playerID" value="3361974660001" />
    <param name="playerKey"
    value="AQ~~,AAAAEpfAbfE~,yevtyUjzDUlb5W3PLYoBWElMuEVDf5JW" />
    <param name="isVid" value="true" />
    <param name="isUI" value="true" />
    <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true" />
    <param name="@videoPlayer" value="681703874001" />
    <param name="cacheAMFURL"
    value="https://share.brightcove.com/services/messagebroker/amf"/>
    <param name="secureConnections" value="true" />
    </object>
    <script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script><noscript><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/flashcont/altflash/cs_doubletransplant.htm">Read transcript for video – Kidney and pancreas double transplant: Ivy's story</a></noscript>
Published Date
2014-07-11 13:43:59Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Kidney,Kidney transplant,Pancreas transplant


NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

'The whole experience has changed my outlook on life'

When Dr Carole Angel donated a kidney to her brother, Paul Whitaker, she was able to go home just 48 hours after surgery.

Paul, a self-employed builder from Preston, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in October 2001. “I was astonished to find out I had renal failure,” he says. “After a series of headaches, I went to the optician because I thought I needed glasses. He tested my blood pressure and it was so high he sent me straight to my doctor.”

He began dialysis in the summer of 2002, but his condition rapidly deteriorated and he was soon registered for a transplant.

His older sister Carole was working as a pathologist in Sheffield. She says: “Paul has always been a strong, tall man, but his illness began to take its toll. He lost three stone in weight.”

Paul’s family were worried about him. “It was worse for Mum, Dad and our brothers, as they all lived closer to him and could see the daily effect on him,” says Carole. “I knew one of us should donate a kidney, and it just happened to be me.

“I don’t see Paul very often but we have always kept in touch by telephone. When I told him I was willing to donate a kidney, he said that he couldn’t ask me to go through with it. I told him he wasn’t asking; I was offering. We can be quite stubborn in our family.

“The decision to donate wasn’t taken lightly. I had to go through a series of hospital tests and received a lot of psychological support. The whole process took many months. I felt a special responsibility to make sure that my health was good enough to help Paul. The worst thing was not knowing whether it would all go ahead.”

Around Christmas 2002, the possibility of ‘keyhole’ surgery was mentioned by the doctors. It was a relatively new procedure for the Manchester renal transplant unit but offered the great advantage of being much better for the donor, with a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time.

However, not all living kidney donors are able to have this technique. It wasn’t until Carole woke up after the operation in March 2003 that she knew it had been successful.

“I had the operation on a Thursday morning and was home by lunchtime on Saturday, just 48 hours later. It was incredible. When I was 21, I had my appendix out and that was far worse than the kidney donation operation.”

Paul recalls waiting to go into surgery a few hours after his sister. “I must admit, I was worried about what she might be going through. But we managed to see each other as I was being wheeled into theatre and she was being wheeled out. She was very groggy and doesn’t remember much, but it gave me a great boost to see her.

“When I eventually came out of surgery, I was wheeled past the side ward where Carole was recovering and she saw me, which made her feel better.”

Both Carole and Paul have fully recovered. “The whole experience has changed my outlook on life,” says Carole. “Paul is always so positive about things. He always looks on the bright side and this has rubbed off on me.”

Paul is back at work again, living life to the full. “I’m overwhelmingly grateful to Carole for what she did for me. She gave me back my life, and I can never thank her enough.”

Published Date
2014-07-11 13:44:10Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Acute renal failure,Chronic renal failure,Kidney transplant


NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

Donating a kidney

Unlike many other types of organ donation, it is possible to donate a kidney while you are alive because you only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donation.

Ideally, living donations will come from a close relative because they are more likely to share the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, which reduces the risk of the body rejecting the kidney. However donations from those who are not blood relatives are sometimes possible.

Kidney donations are also possible from donors who have recently died. However, this type of kidney donation has a slightly lower chance of long-term success.

Who can be a living donor?

There is no upper age-limit for choosing to make a living kidney donation, but you will usually need to be 18 or over.

If you decide to donate one of your kidneys, you will need to attend a series of appointments so that:

  • your blood group and tissue type can be determined, to check your compatibility with potential recipients (see below)
  • the state of your kidneys can be checked
  • your general health can be assessed
  • tests can be carried out to see if you have any serious illnesses that could affect the donation, such as HIV or hepatitis C

This assessment procedure can take 3-6 months, and some overnight stays at a specialist transplant centre may be required.

Checking compatibility

One of the biggest risks of receiving a donated kidney is that your immune system will mistake the donated kidney for foreign tissue. If this happens, your immune system will attempt to destroy the kidney. This is known as rejection.

To minimise the risk of rejection, the kidney should ideally be donated by a donor to a recipient who shares the same:

  • tissue type – human tissue carries a special genetic ‘marker’ or code, known as a human leukocyte antigen (HLA); ideally, you should receive your transplant from someone with a very similar HLA tissue type
  • blood group – as with tissue, red blood cells carry a specific antigen marker

For these reasons, family members are usually the most suitable donors. Members of the same family often share the same genes so they are more likely to have matching HLA tissue types and blood groups.

However, many kidney transplants have been successfully performed using compatible donations not taken from a family member.

Removing your kidney

Your kidney can be removed using:

  • laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery – a type of minimally invasive surgery that involves making several small incisions (cuts), through which fine instruments are used to remove the kidney
  • open surgery – where the kidney is removed through a single, larger incision

Laparoscopic surgery has the benefits of reduced scarring and a faster recovery time then open surgery, but it can only be performed by a surgeon with special expertise in the procedure so it may not always be an option.

Both types of operation are carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you will asleep during the procedure and won’t experience any pain while it is performed.

See how kidney transplants are performed for information about what happens with your donated kidney once it is removed.

Recovery

You will usually need to stay in hospital for up to seven days if you have open surgery to remove one of your kidneys, whereas you can usually go home in 3-4 days after keyhole surgery.

You will need to take it easy for a few weeks after the procedure. You can usually return to work within about 3-4 weeks, but you may need more time off if you have an active and strenuous job.

Risks

As with any type of surgery, removing a kidney has risks. However, most complications associated with the procedure are relatively minor and treatable.

The most common problems that occur after the operation are infections – including wound infections, urinary tract infections and chest infections. It’s estimated that about 1 in every 3 donors develop an infection of some sort after surgery.

More serious complications, such as blood clots or severe bleeding, occur in about 1 in every 100 cases. However, such problems can be identified and treated quickly.

The risk of dying after surgery to remove one of your kidneys is very small, occurring in less than 1 in every 3,000 cases.

It’s important to make sure you fully understand all risks associated with kidney donation before you consent to the procedure.

Related Videos (Embedded)

  • <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"
    src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script>
    <object id="myExperience" class="BrightcoveExperience" title="Organ donation: how it works – Video">
    <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
    <param name="width" value="400" />
    <param name="height" value="265" />
    <param name="playerID" value="3361974660001" />
    <param name="playerKey"
    value="AQ~~,AAAAEpfAbfE~,yevtyUjzDUlb5W3PLYoBWElMuEVDf5JW" />
    <param name="isVid" value="true" />
    <param name="isUI" value="true" />
    <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true" />
    <param name="@videoPlayer" value="1106351251001" />
    <param name="cacheAMFURL"
    value="https://share.brightcove.com/services/messagebroker/amf"/>
    <param name="secureConnections" value="true" />
    </object>
    <script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script><noscript><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/flashcont/altflash/8844_NHS-Organdonationmythsandfacts-0101-EN-16x9_NHS1022_BR-YT.htm">Read transcript for video – Organ donation: how it works</a></noscript>
Published Date
2014-07-07 06:37:23Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Donation (blood or organ),Head injuries,Kidney transplant,Transplantation


NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

How a kidney transplant is performed

When a suitable donor kidney is found, the transplant centre will contact you. Staff at the centre will check you don’t have any new medical problems 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 assessed. Some of the tests you had at your initial assessment may be repeated to ensure no new medical conditions have developed. A laboratory test will be done to ensure the kidney is suitable for you.

The transplant 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.

The operation

The kidney transplant procedure involves three main stages:

  • First, an incision (cut) is made in your lower abdomen (tummy), 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 pain or 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.

A small plastic tube called a stent may be inserted into the ureter to help ensure a good flow of urine. This will usually be removed about six to 10 weeks later during a minor procedure called a cystoscopy.

When the kidney is properly in place, the incision in your abdomen will be closed with surgical staples, stitches or surgical glue.

Although the procedure may sound relatively straightforward, it is demanding and complex surgery that usually takes around three hours to complete.

After the operation

Once you have recovered from the effects of the anaesthetic, it is likely you will feel some pain at the site of the incision. Painkillers will be provided if necessary.

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 this.

If you have a kidney from a living donor, it will usually start working straightaway. In around seven out of 10 people who have a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, the new kidney begins working immediately after surgery. However, transplanted kidneys sometimes take up to six weeks to start working properly. If this is the case, you will need to have dialysis during this time.

Most people can leave hospital after about seven to 10 days, but you will need to attend frequent appointments at the transplant centre so your kidney function can be assessed and so tests can be carried out 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 or 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.

Published Date
2014-07-07 06:36:58Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Donation (blood or organ),Kidney,Kidney transplant,Surgery,Transplantation


NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

Introduction

A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person (the donor) into the body of a person who has little or no kidney function (the recipient).

The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and convert them to urine. If the kidneys lose this ability, waste products can build up, which is potentially dangerous and can be life threatening.

This loss of kidney function, known as end stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant.

It is possible to partially replicate the functions of the kidney using a blood filtering procedure known as dialysis, but this can be both inconvenient and time-consuming so a kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for kidney failure whenever possible.

Who can have a kidney transplant?

Most people who need a kidney transplant are able to have one, regardless of their age, as long as:

  • they are well enough to withstand the effects of surgery
  • the transplant has a relatively good chance of success
  • the person is willing to comply with the recommended treatments required after the transplant – such as taking immunosuppressant medication and attending regular follow-up appointments

Reasons why it may not be safe or effective to perform a transplant include having an ongoing infection (this will need to be treated first), heart disease, liver failure, cancer that has spread to several places in your body (metastatic cancer), and AIDS (the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection).

However, people who have HIV that is being effectively controlled with medication can often have a kidney transplant.

Kidney donations

Unlike many other types of organ donation, it is possible to donate a kidney while you are alive because you only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donation.

People who want to be considered as a kidney donor are tested very carefully to ensure they are a suitable donor and are fit for the operation needed to remove a kidney.

Ideally, living donations will come from a close relative because they are more likely to share the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, which reduces the risk of the body rejecting the kidney. However donations from those who are not blood relatives are sometimes possible.

Kidney donations are also possible from people who have recently died. This is known as deceased kidney donation. However, this type of kidney donation has a slightly lower chance of long-term success.

Read more about donating a kidney.

Waiting for a kidney

People who need a kidney transplant, but do not have a suitable living donor, will have to wait until a suitable deceased donor kidney becomes available. This will ideally be from a donor with the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the kidney.

On average, the waiting time for a deceased donor kidney transplant is about three years. Waiting times are so long because the demand for donated kidneys in the UK is far higher than the available supply of donors.

From April 2012 to April 2013, around 3,000 kidney transplants were carried out in the UK, but there were still more than 6,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney by the end of this period.

Kidney donors are particularly required from people of non-white ethnic origin because rates of kidney disease are especially high in people of South Asian, African and Caribbean ethnic origin, but there are not many donors from these communities.

Read more about the kidney transplant waiting list.

The transplant procedure

If you receive a kidney from a living donor, this will be a carefully planned operation.

If you are waiting for a deceased donor kidney, the transplant centre will contact you if a suitable kidney becomes available. This can happen at any time of the day or night. Staff at the centre will check you don’t have any new medical problems and will ask you to go to the centre, where final checks will be performed to be sure it is right for the transplant to go ahead.

You will then have surgery to insert the new kidney and connect it to your blood vessels and bladder. The new kidney will be placed in the lower part of your abdomen (tummy). Your own kidneys will usually be left in place.

A kidney transplant is a major surgical procedure with a wide range of potential risks. In the short term, these risks include blood clots and infection. Longer term problems, which include diabetes and an increased risk of infections, are usually related to the immunosuppressant medication that needs to be taken continuously to reduce the chance of rejection.

Because of the risk of further problems, people who have had a kidney transplant require regular check-ups for the rest of their life.

Read more about how a kidney transplant is performed and the risks of a kidney transplant.

Living with a kidney transplant

Having a healthy lifestyle after a kidney transplant goes a long way to minimising the risk of complications.

Therefore, it’s recommended that you:

  • stop smoking if you smoke
  • eat a healthy diet
  • lose weight if you are overweight or obese
  • take steps to reduce your risk of developing infections

Read more living with a transplant.

How long do kidney transplants last?

There are a number of factors which affect how long a transplanted kidney may last. These include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney is matched in terms of blood group and tissue type, the age of the person receiving the donation, and the overall health of the person receiving the donation.

Overall, average kidney survival times are:

  • 1 year – 85-95%
  • 5 years – 70-80%
  • 15 years – 50-60%

If you have a kidney transplant that fails, you are usually suitable for another transplant from either a living or deceased donor.

 

Related Videos (Embedded)

  • <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"
    src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script>
    <object id="myExperience" class="BrightcoveExperience" title="Kidney transplant: Tony's story – Video">
    <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
    <param name="width" value="400" />
    <param name="height" value="265" />
    <param name="playerID" value="3361974660001" />
    <param name="playerKey"
    value="AQ~~,AAAAEpfAbfE~,yevtyUjzDUlb5W3PLYoBWElMuEVDf5JW" />
    <param name="isVid" value="true" />
    <param name="isUI" value="true" />
    <param name="dynamicStreaming" value="true" />
    <param name="@videoPlayer" value="681768497001" />
    <param name="cacheAMFURL"
    value="https://share.brightcove.com/services/messagebroker/amf"/>
    <param name="secureConnections" value="true" />
    </object>
    <script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script><noscript><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/flashcont/altflash/kidneyblog.htm">Read transcript for video – Kidney transplant: Tony's story</a></noscript>
Published Date
2014-07-07 06:36:52Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Donation (blood or organ),Kidney,Kidney disease,Kidney transplant

Kidney transplant – NHS Choices

@import url(‘/css/reset.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/screen.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/healthaz.css’) screen;

<!–

//

var MSOWebPartPageFormName = ‘aspnetForm’;

//

//

Kidney transplant 

Introduction 

Kidney transplant: Tony’s story

//

<!–

Viewing video content in NHS Choices

If you do not have a version of the Flash Player you can download the free Adobe Flash Player from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

<!–

Tony talks about his recovery from a kidney transplant and his goal of climbing Mount Everest.

Media last reviewed: 16/05/2013

Next review due: 16/05/2015

The NHS Organ Donor Register

In the UK, consent is required before organs can be donated. A person can give their consent to become an organ donor after death by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register or by discussing their wishes with loved ones.

Alternatively, a person’s organs can be donated if consent is obtained after their death from an authorised person, such as a relative or friend.

The NHS Organ Donor Register is the same in principle as carrying a donor card, but is a failsafe way of ensuring your wishes are made clear. A donor card can be lost or forgotten about, but joining the register will mean there’s a permanent record of your wishes that doctors can check in the event of your death.

Joining the NHS Organ Donor Register is quick and simple, and will only take a few minutes of your time. You can remove yourself from the register at any time, and you can specify what you’re willing to donate.

Read more about organ donation.

//

A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person (the donor) into the body of a person who has little or no kidney function (the recipient).

The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and convert them to urine. If the kidneys lose this ability, waste products can build up, which is potentially dangerous and can be life threatening.

This loss of kidney function, known as end stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant.

It is possible to partially replicate the functions of the kidney using a blood filtering procedure known as dialysis, but this can be both inconvenient and time-consuming so a kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for kidney failure whenever possible.

Who can have a kidney transplant?

Most people who need a kidney transplant are able to have one, regardless of their age, as long as:

  • they are well enough to withstand the effects of surgery
  • the transplant has a relatively good chance of success
  • the person is willing to comply with the recommended treatments required after the transplant – such as taking immunosuppressant medication and attending regular follow-up appointments

Reasons why it may not be safe or effective to perform a transplant include having an ongoing infection (this will need to be treated first), heart disease, liver failure, cancer that has spread to several places in your body (metastatic cancer), and AIDS (the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection).

However, people who have HIV that is being effectively controlled with medication can often have a kidney transplant.

Kidney donations

Unlike many other types of organ donation, it is possible to donate a kidney while you are alive because you only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donation.

People who want to be considered as a kidney donor are tested very carefully to ensure they are a suitable donor and are fit for the operation needed to remove a kidney.

Ideally, living donations will come from a close relative because they are more likely to share the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, which reduces the risk of the body rejecting the kidney. However donations from those who are not blood relatives are sometimes possible.

Kidney donations are also possible from people who have recently died. This is known as deceased kidney donation. However, this type of kidney donation has a slightly lower chance of long-term success.

Read more about donating a kidney.

Waiting for a kidney

People who need a kidney transplant, but do not have a suitable living donor, will have to wait until a suitable deceased donor kidney becomes available. This will ideally be from a donor with the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the kidney.

On average, the waiting time for a deceased donor kidney transplant is about three years. Waiting times are so long because the demand for donated kidneys in the UK is far higher than the available supply of donors.

From April 2012 to April 2013, around 3,000 kidney transplants were carried out in the UK, but there were still more than 6,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney by the end of this period.

Kidney donors are particularly required from people of non-white ethnic origin because rates of kidney disease are especially high in people of South Asian, African and Caribbean ethnic origin, but there are not many donors from these communities.

Read more about the kidney transplant waiting list.

The transplant procedure

If you receive a kidney from a living donor, this will be a carefully planned operation.

If you are waiting for a deceased donor kidney, the transplant centre will contact you if a suitable kidney becomes available. This can happen at any time of the day or night. Staff at the centre will check you don’t have any new medical problems and will ask you to go to the centre, where final checks will be performed to be sure it is right for the transplant to go ahead.

You will then have surgery to insert the new kidney and connect it to your blood vessels and bladder. The new kidney will be placed in the lower part of your abdomen (tummy). Your own kidneys will usually be left in place.

A kidney transplant is a major surgical procedure with a wide range of potential risks. In the short term, these risks include blood clots and infection. Longer term problems, which include diabetes and an increased risk of infections, are usually related to the immunosuppressant medication that needs to be taken continuously to reduce the chance of rejection.

Because of the risk of further problems, people who have had a kidney transplant require regular check-ups for the rest of their life.

Read more about how a kidney transplant is performed and the risks of a kidney transplant.

Living with a kidney transplant

Having a healthy lifestyle after a kidney transplant goes a long way to minimising the risk of complications.

Therefore, it’s recommended that you:

  • stop smoking if you smoke
  • eat a healthy diet
  • lose weight if you are overweight or obese
  • take steps to reduce your risk of developing infections

Read more living with a transplant.

How long do kidney transplants last?

There are a number of factors which affect how long a transplanted kidney may last. These include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney is matched in terms of blood group and tissue type, the age of the person receiving the donation, and the overall health of the person receiving the donation.

Overall, average kidney survival times are:

  • 1 year – 85-95%
  • 5 years – 70-80%
  • 15 years – 50-60%

If you have a kidney transplant that fails, you are usually suitable for another transplant from either a living or deceased donor.

Page last reviewed: 31/01/2014

Next review due: 31/01/2016

Ratings

How helpful is this page?

Average rating

Based on
164
ratings

All ratings

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Add your rating

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful

Comments

Kidney health

Find out about how to look after your kidneys and whether you need to have them checked

Blood and organ donation

Have you considered donating your organs or giving blood? Find out how you could help others and how to register

var hu_webpart_id = 2;
var hu_comm_id = 74;

var huarr = huarr || [];
huarr.push([‘_createWebpart’, hu_webpart_id + ‘,’ + hu_comm_id]);
(function () {
var hu = document.createElement(‘script’);
hu.id = ‘hu_webpartid’ + hu_webpart_id;
hu.type = ‘text/javascript’; hu.async = true;
hu.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://’ : ‘http://’) + ‘www.healthunlocked.com/choices.v6.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’).length – 1]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(hu, s);
})();

Community content from HealthUnlocked


dcsimg

(function (i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {
i[‘GoogleAnalyticsObject’] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function () {
(i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)
}, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o),
m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)
})(window, document, ‘script’, ‘//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js’, ‘ga’);

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-9510975-1’, ‘www.nhs.uk’);
ga(‘require’, ‘displayfeatures’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

//

//



NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

Living with a kidney transplant

The lifestyle advice below is usually recommended if you have had a kidney transplant.

Stop smoking

If you smoke, it is strongly recommended you stop as soon as possible because smoking can reduce the life of your new kidney and can increase your risk of developing some types of cancer.

The NHS Smokefree website can provide support and advice to help you stop, and your GP will also be able to recommend and prescribe medication that can help. Read more about stopping smoking.

Diet

Most people are able to enjoy a much more varied diet after a kidney transplant, although you may be advised to avoid some foods after the operation until the kidney is working properly.

During the early stages after a transplant, while you are on higher doses of immunosuppressant medication, you should avoid eating foods that may cause food-borne infections such as listeriosis. For example, you should avoid:

  • unpasteurised cheese, milk or yoghurt
  • foods containing raw eggs (such as mayonnaise)
  • undercooked meats, fish and shellfish

Once your kidney is working properly and the best immunosuppressant dose for you has been identified, you will usually be advised to follow a generally healthy diet as this can help reduce your risk of complications such as diabetes.

A healthy diet should consist of:

Also avoid food that contains high levels of salt, as salt can cause high blood pressure, which can be dangerous in people with a kidney transplant. See facts about salt for more information and advice.

Exercise and weight loss

Once you have made a sufficient physical recovery from the effects of surgery, it is recommended that you do regular physical activity.

Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week.

The definition of moderate intensity physical activity is any activity that increases your heart and breathing rate and may make you sweat but you are still able to hold a normal conversation.

Examples include:

  • fast walking
  • riding a bike on level ground or with few hills
  • swimming
  • tennis

Choose physical activities that you enjoy, as you are more likely to continue doing them.

It is probably unrealistic to meet these exercise targets immediately if you have not exercised much in the past. So you should aim to start gradually – possibly 15 to 20 minutes of exercise five times a week – and then build on it.

If you are overweight or obese it is recommended you try to achieve a healthy weight. This can be safely done through a combination of eating a healthy calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise.

It is normally recommended you aim for a body mass index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 25.

Read more about exercise and losing weight safely.

Alcohol, drugs and medications

Regularly drinking alcohol above limits recommended by the NHS will raise your blood pressure, which can be dangerous in people with a kidney transplant.

Therefore, you should not exceed the recommended limits of:

  • three to four units a day for men
  • two to three units a day for women

Read more about alcohol units and get tips on cutting down.

Alcohol is also high in calories, so you will gain weight if you drink regularly. Being overweight will also increase your blood pressure. Read more about calories in alcohol.

You should also avoid taking any illegal drugs after a kidney transplant, as they can damage your kidneys, cause a sudden rise in blood pressure and react unpredictably with your immunosuppressant medications.

Finally, always check with your care team before taking any medication, including over-the-counter medication and herbal remedies such as St John’s wort, as some medications could be potentially harmful if you have had a kidney transplant and are taking immunosuppressant medication.

Immunosuppressants and infection

If you have a kidney transplant, you will usually need to take immunosuppressant medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body’s immune system from attacking the new kidney.

Widely used immunosuppressants include:

However, taking immunosuppressive medications on a long-term basis will weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infections, so you will need to take extra precautions against infection:

  • Avoid contact with people with serious infections, such as chickenpox or influenza (flu).
  • Practise good personal hygiene – wash your hands regularly with soap and hot water, particularly after going to the toilet and before preparing food and eating meals.
  • If you cut or graze your skin, clean the area thoroughly with warm water, dry it, then cover it with a sterile dressing.

Also ensure your vaccinations are up to date, although you will not be able to have any vaccines that contain live viruses, such as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

When to seek medical advice

If you think you may have an infection, contact your GP or transplant centre for advice. Prompt treatment may be required to prevent serious complications developing.

Symptoms of infection include:

Published Date
2014-03-06 16:38:31Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Immunosuppressants,Kidney transplant

Kidney transplant – NHS Choices

@import url(‘/css/reset.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/screen.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/healthaz.css’) screen;

<!–

//

var MSOWebPartPageFormName = ‘aspnetForm’;

//

//

Kidney transplant 

Introduction 

Kidney transplant: Tony’s story

//

<!–

Viewing video content in NHS Choices

If you do not have a version of the Flash Player you can download the free Adobe Flash Player from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

<!–

Tony talks about his recovery from a kidney transplant and his goal of climbing Mount Everest.

Media last reviewed: 16/05/2013

Next review due: 16/05/2015

The NHS Organ Donor Register

In the UK, consent is required before organs can be donated. A person can give their consent to become an organ donor after death by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register or by discussing their wishes with loved ones.

Alternatively, a person’s organs can be donated if consent is obtained after their death from an authorised person, such as a relative or friend.

The NHS Organ Donor Register is the same in principle as carrying a donor card, but is a failsafe way of ensuring your wishes are made clear. A donor card can be lost or forgotten about, but joining the register will mean there’s a permanent record of your wishes that doctors can check in the event of your death.

Joining the NHS Organ Donor Register is quick and simple, and will only take a few minutes of your time. You can remove yourself from the register at any time, and you can specify what you’re willing to donate.

Read more about organ donation.

//

A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person (the donor) into the body of a person who has little or no kidney function (the recipient).

The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and convert them to urine. If the kidneys lose this ability, waste products can build up, which is potentially dangerous and can be life threatening.

This loss of kidney function, known as end stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant.

It is possible to partially replicate the functions of the kidney using a blood filtering procedure known as dialysis, but this can be both inconvenient and time-consuming so a kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for kidney failure whenever possible.

Who can have a kidney transplant?

Most people who need a kidney transplant are able to have one, regardless of their age, as long as:

  • they are well enough to withstand the effects of surgery
  • the transplant has a relatively good chance of success
  • the person is willing to comply with the recommended treatments required after the transplant – such as taking immunosuppressant medication and attending regular follow-up appointments

Reasons why it may not be safe or effective to perform a transplant include having an ongoing infection (this will need to be treated first), heart disease, liver failure, cancer that has spread to several places in your body (metastatic cancer), and AIDS (the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection).

However, people who have HIV that is being effectively controlled with medication can often have a kidney transplant.

Kidney donations

Unlike many other types of organ donation, it is possible to donate a kidney while you are alive because you only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donation.

People who want to be considered as a kidney donor are tested very carefully to ensure they are a suitable donor and are fit for the operation needed to remove a kidney.

Ideally, living donations will come from a close relative because they are more likely to share the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, which reduces the risk of the body rejecting the kidney. However donations from those who are not blood relatives are sometimes possible.

Kidney donations are also possible from people who have recently died. This is known as deceased kidney donation. However, this type of kidney donation has a slightly lower chance of long-term success.

Read more about donating a kidney.

Waiting for a kidney

People who need a kidney transplant, but do not have a suitable living donor, will have to wait until a suitable deceased donor kidney becomes available. This will ideally be from a donor with the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the kidney.

On average, the waiting time for a deceased donor kidney transplant is about three years. Waiting times are so long because the demand for donated kidneys in the UK is far higher than the available supply of donors.

From April 2012 to April 2013, around 3,000 kidney transplants were carried out in the UK, but there were still more than 6,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney by the end of this period.

Kidney donors are particularly required from people of non-white ethnic origin because rates of kidney disease are especially high in people of South Asian, African and Caribbean ethnic origin, but there are not many donors from these communities.

Read more about the kidney transplant waiting list.

The transplant procedure

If you receive a kidney from a living donor, this will be a carefully planned operation.

If you are waiting for a deceased donor kidney, the transplant centre will contact you if a suitable kidney becomes available. This can happen at any time of the day or night. Staff at the centre will check you don’t have any new medical problems and will ask you to go to the centre, where final checks will be performed to be sure it is right for the transplant to go ahead.

You will then have surgery to insert the new kidney and connect it to your blood vessels and bladder. The new kidney will be placed in the lower part of your abdomen (tummy). Your own kidneys will usually be left in place.

A kidney transplant is a major surgical procedure with a wide range of potential risks. In the short term, these risks include blood clots and infection. Longer term problems, which include diabetes and an increased risk of infections, are usually related to the immunosuppressant medication that needs to be taken continuously to reduce the chance of rejection.

Because of the risk of further problems, people who have had a kidney transplant require regular check-ups for the rest of their life.

Read more about how a kidney transplant is performed and the risks of a kidney transplant.

Living with a kidney transplant

Having a healthy lifestyle after a kidney transplant goes a long way to minimising the risk of complications.

Therefore, it’s recommended that you:

  • stop smoking if you smoke
  • eat a healthy diet
  • lose weight if you are overweight or obese
  • take steps to reduce your risk of developing infections

Read more living with a transplant.

How long do kidney transplants last?

There are a number of factors which affect how long a transplanted kidney may last. These include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney is matched in terms of blood group and tissue type, the age of the person receiving the donation, and the overall health of the person receiving the donation.

Overall, average kidney survival times are:

  • 1 year – 85-95%
  • 5 years – 70-80%
  • 15 years – 50-60%

If you have a kidney transplant that fails, you are usually suitable for another transplant from either a living or deceased donor.

Page last reviewed: 31/01/2014

Next review due: 31/01/2016

Ratings

How helpful is this page?

Average rating

Based on
164
ratings

All ratings

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Add your rating

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful

Comments

Kidney health

Find out about how to look after your kidneys and whether you need to have them checked

Blood and organ donation

Have you considered donating your organs or giving blood? Find out how you could help others and how to register

var hu_webpart_id = 2;
var hu_comm_id = 74;

var huarr = huarr || [];
huarr.push([‘_createWebpart’, hu_webpart_id + ‘,’ + hu_comm_id]);
(function () {
var hu = document.createElement(‘script’);
hu.id = ‘hu_webpartid’ + hu_webpart_id;
hu.type = ‘text/javascript’; hu.async = true;
hu.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://’ : ‘http://’) + ‘www.healthunlocked.com/choices.v6.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’).length – 1]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(hu, s);
})();

Community content from HealthUnlocked


dcsimg

(function (i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {
i[‘GoogleAnalyticsObject’] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function () {
(i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)
}, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o),
m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)
})(window, document, ‘script’, ‘//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js’, ‘ga’);

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-9510975-1’, ‘www.nhs.uk’);
ga(‘require’, ‘displayfeatures’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

//

//



NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

Kidney transplant

Risks of a kidney transplant

Although rates of serious complications have fallen sharply in the last few decades, kidney transplants – like any other type of surgery – are not risk free.

The risks of a kidney transplant can arise from a number of factors:

  • risks related to the procedure itself
  • risks related to the use of immunosuppressant medications (medications that reduce the activity of your immune system)
  • risks related to something going wrong with the transplanted kidney

Most complications occur in the first few months after a transplant, but complications can still develop after many years.

Both short-term and long-term complications of a kidney transplant are discussed below.

Short-term complications

Infection

Minor infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), colds and flu, are common after kidney transplants.

More serious infections, such as pneumonia and cytomegalovirus, can occur and may require treatment in hospital.

Blood clots

Blood clots can develop in the arteries that have been connected to the donated kidney. This is estimated to occur in around one in every 100 kidney transplant cases.

In some cases, it may be possible to dissolve the blood clots using medication, but it is often necessary to remove the donated kidney if its blood supply is blocked.

Narrowing of an artery

Narrowing of the artery connected to the donated kidney, known as arterial stenosis, can sometimes occur after a kidney transplant. In some cases, it can develop months or even years after the transplant.

Arterial stenosis can cause a rise in blood pressure. The artery often needs to be stretched to widen it, and a small metal tube called a stent is often placed inside the affected artery to stop it narrowing again.

Obstruction of the ureter

The ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder) can become blocked after a kidney transplant. It can be blocked soon after the transplant, for example by blood clots, or this can happen months or even years later, usually due to scar tissue forming.

It may be possible to unblock the ureter by draining it with a small tube called a catheter. Sometimes surgery may be required to unblock the ureter.

Urine leakage

Occasionally, urine may leak from where the ureter joins the bladder after surgery. This usually occurs during the first month after surgery. The fluid may build up in the abdomen or leak through the surgical incision.

If you develop a urine leak, you will usually need to have further surgery to repair it.

Acute rejection

Acute rejection means the immune system suddenly begins to attack the donated kidney because it recognises it as foreign tissue.

Despite the use of immunosuppressants, acute rejection is a common complication in the first year after a transplant, affecting an estimated one in five people.

In many cases, acute rejection does not cause noticeable symptoms, and is only detected by a blood test.

Acute rejection can often be successfully treated with a short course of more powerful immunosuppressants.

Long-term complications

Immunosuppressant side effects

Immunosuppressants prevent your body’s immune system from attacking the new kidney, which would cause the transplanted kidney to be rejected.

A combination of two or three different immunosuppressants is usually taken long term.

These can cause a wide range of side effects, including:

  • weight gain
  • abdominal pain
  • diarrhoea
  • extra hair growth
  • swollen gums
  • bruising or bleeding more easily
  • acne

The doctor in charge of your care will be trying to find the right dose that is high enough to ‘dampen’ the immune system sufficiently to stop rejection, but low enough that you experience very few or no side effects.

Finding the optimal dose to achieve both goals is often a difficult balancing act. It may take several months to find the most effective dose that causes the least amount of side effects.

Side effects should improve once the right dosage is identified. Even if your side effects become troublesome, never suddenly stop taking your medication because your kidney could be rejected.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a common complication of having a kidney transplant.  

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. Some people develop it after a kidney transplant because, as they no longer feel unwell they eat more and gain too much weight. Some types of immunosuppressants can also make you more likely to develop diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

  • feeling very thirsty
  • going to the toilet to urinate a lot, especially at night
  • tiredness

Diabetes can often be controlled using a combination of lifestyle changes, such as changes to your diet, and medication. Read more about treating diabetes.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is also a common long-term complication of a kidney transplant.

Many people who require a kidney transplant already have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure and taking immunosuppressants can make the condition worse.

High blood pressure usually causes no noticeable symptoms but can increase your risk of developing other serious, and in some cases fatal health conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

Because of the risk of high blood pressure, you will have your blood pressure checked every time you attend one of your follow-up appointments. In addition to this you can check your own blood pressure at home with a simple device available from most chemists.

Read more about checking your blood pressure.

Cancer

The long-term use of immunosuppressants also increases your risk of developing some types of cancer, particularly types of cancer known to be caused by viruses (as you will be more vulnerable to the effects of infection).

These include:

  • most types of skin cancer
  • Kaposi’s sarcoma – a type of cancer that can affect both skin and internal organs
  • lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system 

You can help reduce your risk of skin cancer by avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day and by applying complete sun block to your lips and all exposed areas of your skin every day, regardless of whether or not it is sunny.

Your care team will be able to provide more advice on your individual risks, whether you require regular check-ups and any early signs to watch out for.

Published Date
2014-03-06 16:25:33Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Abdominal pain,Bladder infections,Kidney transplant,Ureter and urethra,Urinary tract infections,Urine

Kidney transplant – NHS Choices

@import url(‘/css/reset.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/screen.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/healthaz.css’) screen;

<!–

//

var MSOWebPartPageFormName = ‘aspnetForm’;

//

//

Kidney transplant 

Introduction 

Kidney transplant: Tony’s story

//

<!–

Viewing video content in NHS Choices

If you do not have a version of the Flash Player you can download the free Adobe Flash Player from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

<!–

Tony talks about his recovery from a kidney transplant and his goal of climbing Mount Everest.

Media last reviewed: 16/05/2013

Next review due: 16/05/2015

The NHS Organ Donor Register

In the UK, consent is required before organs can be donated. A person can give their consent to become an organ donor after death by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register or by discussing their wishes with loved ones.

Alternatively, a person’s organs can be donated if consent is obtained after their death from an authorised person, such as a relative or friend.

The NHS Organ Donor Register is the same in principle as carrying a donor card, but is a failsafe way of ensuring your wishes are made clear. A donor card can be lost or forgotten about, but joining the register will mean there’s a permanent record of your wishes that doctors can check in the event of your death.

Joining the NHS Organ Donor Register is quick and simple, and will only take a few minutes of your time. You can remove yourself from the register at any time, and you can specify what you’re willing to donate.

Read more about organ donation.

//

A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person (the donor) into the body of a person who has little or no kidney function (the recipient).

The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and convert them to urine. If the kidneys lose this ability, waste products can build up, which is potentially dangerous and can be life threatening.

This loss of kidney function, known as end stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant.

It is possible to partially replicate the functions of the kidney using a blood filtering procedure known as dialysis, but this can be both inconvenient and time-consuming so a kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for kidney failure whenever possible.

Who can have a kidney transplant?

Most people who need a kidney transplant are able to have one, regardless of their age, as long as:

  • they are well enough to withstand the effects of surgery
  • the transplant has a relatively good chance of success
  • the person is willing to comply with the recommended treatments required after the transplant – such as taking immunosuppressant medication and attending regular follow-up appointments

Reasons why it may not be safe or effective to perform a transplant include having an ongoing infection (this will need to be treated first), heart disease, liver failure, cancer that has spread to several places in your body (metastatic cancer), and AIDS (the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection).

However, people who have HIV that is being effectively controlled with medication can often have a kidney transplant.

Kidney donations

Unlike many other types of organ donation, it is possible to donate a kidney while you are alive because you only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donation.

People who want to be considered as a kidney donor are tested very carefully to ensure they are a suitable donor and are fit for the operation needed to remove a kidney.

Ideally, living donations will come from a close relative because they are more likely to share the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, which reduces the risk of the body rejecting the kidney. However donations from those who are not blood relatives are sometimes possible.

Kidney donations are also possible from people who have recently died. This is known as deceased kidney donation. However, this type of kidney donation has a slightly lower chance of long-term success.

Read more about donating a kidney.

Waiting for a kidney

People who need a kidney transplant, but do not have a suitable living donor, will have to wait until a suitable deceased donor kidney becomes available. This will ideally be from a donor with the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the kidney.

On average, the waiting time for a deceased donor kidney transplant is about three years. Waiting times are so long because the demand for donated kidneys in the UK is far higher than the available supply of donors.

From April 2012 to April 2013, around 3,000 kidney transplants were carried out in the UK, but there were still more than 6,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney by the end of this period.

Kidney donors are particularly required from people of non-white ethnic origin because rates of kidney disease are especially high in people of South Asian, African and Caribbean ethnic origin, but there are not many donors from these communities.

Read more about the kidney transplant waiting list.

The transplant procedure

If you receive a kidney from a living donor, this will be a carefully planned operation.

If you are waiting for a deceased donor kidney, the transplant centre will contact you if a suitable kidney becomes available. This can happen at any time of the day or night. Staff at the centre will check you don’t have any new medical problems and will ask you to go to the centre, where final checks will be performed to be sure it is right for the transplant to go ahead.

You will then have surgery to insert the new kidney and connect it to your blood vessels and bladder. The new kidney will be placed in the lower part of your abdomen (tummy). Your own kidneys will usually be left in place.

A kidney transplant is a major surgical procedure with a wide range of potential risks. In the short term, these risks include blood clots and infection. Longer term problems, which include diabetes and an increased risk of infections, are usually related to the immunosuppressant medication that needs to be taken continuously to reduce the chance of rejection.

Because of the risk of further problems, people who have had a kidney transplant require regular check-ups for the rest of their life.

Read more about how a kidney transplant is performed and the risks of a kidney transplant.

Living with a kidney transplant

Having a healthy lifestyle after a kidney transplant goes a long way to minimising the risk of complications.

Therefore, it’s recommended that you:

  • stop smoking if you smoke
  • eat a healthy diet
  • lose weight if you are overweight or obese
  • take steps to reduce your risk of developing infections

Read more living with a transplant.

How long do kidney transplants last?

There are a number of factors which affect how long a transplanted kidney may last. These include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney is matched in terms of blood group and tissue type, the age of the person receiving the donation, and the overall health of the person receiving the donation.

Overall, average kidney survival times are:

  • 1 year – 85-95%
  • 5 years – 70-80%
  • 15 years – 50-60%

If you have a kidney transplant that fails, you are usually suitable for another transplant from either a living or deceased donor.

Page last reviewed: 31/01/2014

Next review due: 31/01/2016

Ratings

How helpful is this page?

Average rating

Based on
164
ratings

All ratings

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Add your rating

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful

Comments

Kidney health

Find out about how to look after your kidneys and whether you need to have them checked

Blood and organ donation

Have you considered donating your organs or giving blood? Find out how you could help others and how to register

var hu_webpart_id = 2;
var hu_comm_id = 74;

var huarr = huarr || [];
huarr.push([‘_createWebpart’, hu_webpart_id + ‘,’ + hu_comm_id]);
(function () {
var hu = document.createElement(‘script’);
hu.id = ‘hu_webpartid’ + hu_webpart_id;
hu.type = ‘text/javascript’; hu.async = true;
hu.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://’ : ‘http://’) + ‘www.healthunlocked.com/choices.v6.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’).length – 1]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(hu, s);
})();

Community content from HealthUnlocked


dcsimg

(function (i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {
i[‘GoogleAnalyticsObject’] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function () {
(i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)
}, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o),
m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)
})(window, document, ‘script’, ‘//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js’, ‘ga’);

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-9510975-1’, ‘www.nhs.uk’);
ga(‘require’, ‘displayfeatures’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

//

//



NHS Choices Syndication

table.options
{
border-spacing: 0px;
margin-top: 1em;
}
table.options, table.options th, table.options td
{
border: solid 1px black;
}
table.options th, table.options td
{
padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
}
dl.links dt
{
font-weight: bold;
}

 /conditions/articles/kidney-transplant/when-it-should-be-done

Kidney transplant

Waiting for a kidney transplant

Ideally, a kidney transplant should be performed when testing shows the extent of damage to your kidneys is so great that you will require dialysis within six months.

However, because of the lack of available kidneys, it is unlikely you will receive a kidney donation at this time unless a family member or friend who has a similar tissue type to you is willing to make a living donation.

Most people with kidney failure need dialysis while they wait for a donated kidney to become available.

The average time a person spends on the waiting list for a kidney transplant is about three years. People with rarer blood groups or tissue types tend to wait longer.

How donations are allocated

Demand for donations from recently deceased people far outstrips supply so there are strict but necessary guidelines about how donations are allocated.

Children and young adults are given priority if a matched donation becomes available as they will most likely gain a long-term benefit from donation.

For older adults, a scoring system is used to determine who should get a donation. The score is based on factors such as how long you have been on the waiting list and how well matched the donor is in terms of tissue type, blood group and age.

Waiting for a transplant

If you are on the waiting list for a kidney, the transplant centre will need to contact you at short notice once a kidney becomes available so you must inform staff if there are any changes to your contact details.

You should also inform staff if there are changes to your health – for example, if you develop an infection.

While waiting for a donated kidney to become available, it is important you stay as healthy as possible by doing the following:

  • eating a healthy diet – read more about healthy eating
  • taking regular exercise if possible – read more about exercise and getting fit
  • moderating your consumption of alcohol – recommended limits for alcohol consumption are three to four units a day for men and two to three units a day for women; read some tips on cutting down
  • stopping smoking if you smoke – read more about stopping smoking

Make sure you always have an overnight bag ready for when the call comes and make arrangements with friends, family and work so you can go to the transplant centre as soon as a donor becomes available.

Transplant centres

In England, there are 20 NHS specialist kidney transplant centres. Six centres are in London, and a further 14 are in the following cities:

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Cambridge
  • Coventry
  • Leeds
  • Leicester
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester
  • Newcastle
  • Nottingham
  • Oxford
  • Plymouth
  • Portsmouth
  • Sheffield

Read about how a kidney transplant is performed.

Published Date
2014-07-07 06:37:02Z
Last Review Date
2014-01-31 00:00:00Z
Next Review Date
2016-01-31 00:00:00Z
Classification
Kidney transplant

Kidney transplant – NHS Choices

@import url(‘/css/reset.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/screen.css’) screen;
@import url(‘/css/healthaz.css’) screen;

<!–

//

var MSOWebPartPageFormName = ‘aspnetForm’;

//

//

Kidney transplant 

Introduction 

Kidney transplant: Tony’s story

//

<!–

Viewing video content in NHS Choices

If you do not have a version of the Flash Player you can download the free Adobe Flash Player from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

<!–

Tony talks about his recovery from a kidney transplant and his goal of climbing Mount Everest.

Media last reviewed: 16/05/2013

Next review due: 16/05/2015

The NHS Organ Donor Register

In the UK, consent is required before organs can be donated. A person can give their consent to become an organ donor after death by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register or by discussing their wishes with loved ones.

Alternatively, a person’s organs can be donated if consent is obtained after their death from an authorised person, such as a relative or friend.

The NHS Organ Donor Register is the same in principle as carrying a donor card, but is a failsafe way of ensuring your wishes are made clear. A donor card can be lost or forgotten about, but joining the register will mean there’s a permanent record of your wishes that doctors can check in the event of your death.

Joining the NHS Organ Donor Register is quick and simple, and will only take a few minutes of your time. You can remove yourself from the register at any time, and you can specify what you’re willing to donate.

Read more about organ donation.

//

A kidney transplant is the transfer of a healthy kidney from one person (the donor) into the body of a person who has little or no kidney function (the recipient).

The main role of the kidneys is to filter waste products from the blood and convert them to urine. If the kidneys lose this ability, waste products can build up, which is potentially dangerous and can be life threatening.

This loss of kidney function, known as end stage chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, is the most common reason for needing a kidney transplant.

It is possible to partially replicate the functions of the kidney using a blood filtering procedure known as dialysis, but this can be both inconvenient and time-consuming so a kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for kidney failure whenever possible.

Who can have a kidney transplant?

Most people who need a kidney transplant are able to have one, regardless of their age, as long as:

  • they are well enough to withstand the effects of surgery
  • the transplant has a relatively good chance of success
  • the person is willing to comply with the recommended treatments required after the transplant – such as taking immunosuppressant medication and attending regular follow-up appointments

Reasons why it may not be safe or effective to perform a transplant include having an ongoing infection (this will need to be treated first), heart disease, liver failure, cancer that has spread to several places in your body (metastatic cancer), and AIDS (the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection).

However, people who have HIV that is being effectively controlled with medication can often have a kidney transplant.

Kidney donations

Unlike many other types of organ donation, it is possible to donate a kidney while you are alive because you only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donation.

People who want to be considered as a kidney donor are tested very carefully to ensure they are a suitable donor and are fit for the operation needed to remove a kidney.

Ideally, living donations will come from a close relative because they are more likely to share the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, which reduces the risk of the body rejecting the kidney. However donations from those who are not blood relatives are sometimes possible.

Kidney donations are also possible from people who have recently died. This is known as deceased kidney donation. However, this type of kidney donation has a slightly lower chance of long-term success.

Read more about donating a kidney.

Waiting for a kidney

People who need a kidney transplant, but do not have a suitable living donor, will have to wait until a suitable deceased donor kidney becomes available. This will ideally be from a donor with the same tissue type and blood group as the recipient, to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the kidney.

On average, the waiting time for a deceased donor kidney transplant is about three years. Waiting times are so long because the demand for donated kidneys in the UK is far higher than the available supply of donors.

From April 2012 to April 2013, around 3,000 kidney transplants were carried out in the UK, but there were still more than 6,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney by the end of this period.

Kidney donors are particularly required from people of non-white ethnic origin because rates of kidney disease are especially high in people of South Asian, African and Caribbean ethnic origin, but there are not many donors from these communities.

Read more about the kidney transplant waiting list.

The transplant procedure

If you receive a kidney from a living donor, this will be a carefully planned operation.

If you are waiting for a deceased donor kidney, the transplant centre will contact you if a suitable kidney becomes available. This can happen at any time of the day or night. Staff at the centre will check you don’t have any new medical problems and will ask you to go to the centre, where final checks will be performed to be sure it is right for the transplant to go ahead.

You will then have surgery to insert the new kidney and connect it to your blood vessels and bladder. The new kidney will be placed in the lower part of your abdomen (tummy). Your own kidneys will usually be left in place.

A kidney transplant is a major surgical procedure with a wide range of potential risks. In the short term, these risks include blood clots and infection. Longer term problems, which include diabetes and an increased risk of infections, are usually related to the immunosuppressant medication that needs to be taken continuously to reduce the chance of rejection.

Because of the risk of further problems, people who have had a kidney transplant require regular check-ups for the rest of their life.

Read more about how a kidney transplant is performed and the risks of a kidney transplant.

Living with a kidney transplant

Having a healthy lifestyle after a kidney transplant goes a long way to minimising the risk of complications.

Therefore, it’s recommended that you:

  • stop smoking if you smoke
  • eat a healthy diet
  • lose weight if you are overweight or obese
  • take steps to reduce your risk of developing infections

Read more living with a transplant.

How long do kidney transplants last?

There are a number of factors which affect how long a transplanted kidney may last. These include whether or not the kidney came from a living donor, how well the kidney is matched in terms of blood group and tissue type, the age of the person receiving the donation, and the overall health of the person receiving the donation.

Overall, average kidney survival times are:

  • 1 year – 85-95%
  • 5 years – 70-80%
  • 15 years – 50-60%

If you have a kidney transplant that fails, you are usually suitable for another transplant from either a living or deceased donor.

Page last reviewed: 31/01/2014

Next review due: 31/01/2016

Ratings

How helpful is this page?

Average rating

Based on
164
ratings

All ratings

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful



Add your rating

Unhelpful
Not very helpful
Fairly helpful
Helpful
Very helpful

Comments

Kidney health

Find out about how to look after your kidneys and whether you need to have them checked

Blood and organ donation

Have you considered donating your organs or giving blood? Find out how you could help others and how to register

var hu_webpart_id = 2;
var hu_comm_id = 74;

var huarr = huarr || [];
huarr.push([‘_createWebpart’, hu_webpart_id + ‘,’ + hu_comm_id]);
(function () {
var hu = document.createElement(‘script’);
hu.id = ‘hu_webpartid’ + hu_webpart_id;
hu.type = ‘text/javascript’; hu.async = true;
hu.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://’ : ‘http://’) + ‘www.healthunlocked.com/choices.v6.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’).length – 1]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(hu, s);
})();

Community content from HealthUnlocked


dcsimg

(function (i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {
i[‘GoogleAnalyticsObject’] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function () {
(i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)
}, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o),
m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)
})(window, document, ‘script’, ‘//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js’, ‘ga’);

ga(‘create’, ‘UA-9510975-1’, ‘www.nhs.uk’);
ga(‘require’, ‘displayfeatures’);
ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’);

//

//

jQuery(document).ready(function() {
jQuery( “#tabs” ).tabs();
});

Leave a Reply

*