Kidney Transplant

At UR Medicine, we know a kidney transplant is a lifelong commitment for you and for us. We’re with you every step of the way.

Kidney Transplant Evaluation

Before you can be added to the transplant list, you will go through a full kidney transplant evaluation to make sure it’s the right option for you. This includes:

• Blood and imaging tests

• Heart and lung evaluations

• Meetings with transplant doctors, nurses, a social worker, and dietitian

• A review of your medical history, current medications, and overall health

Our team will also talk with you about transplant options, recovery expectations, and any questions you may have.

Types of Kidney Donation

There are two ways to receive a kidney transplant:

Living Donor Kidney Transplant 

A healthy person—often a family member or friend—can donate one of their kidneys. Living donor transplants usually last longer and can be scheduled before dialysis is needed.

UR Medicine offers a paired kidney exchange program for living donors who are not a match with their intended recipient.

Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant

You may also receive a kidney from someone who has passed away and chose to donate their organs. Wait times can vary depending on your blood type, body size, and medical urgency.

What to Expect During Kidney Transplant Surgery

Kidney transplant surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes 3 to 4 hours. During the procedure:

• The donated kidney is placed in your lower abdomen

• Your own kidneys are usually left in place

• Blood vessels and the ureter (urine tube) are connected to the new kidney

Most patients stay in the hospital for 4 to 7 days after surgery.

Recovery and Follow-Up Care

After your transplant, you’ll take medications to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney. Regular follow-up visits will include:

• Blood tests to monitor kidney function

• Medication adjustments

• Support from our transplant care team, including pharmacists, nurses, and social workers

UR Medicine is the first and only kidney transplant center in the Northeast offering robotic surgery for kidney transplant recipients. With robotic surgery, the surgeon performs the operation but uses the robot and the instruments as additional tools to enable a more precise surgery.

We are a pioneer in transplantation in Upstate New York. UR Medicine has the only heart transplant program, the only liver transplant program, and the only live donor liver transplant program in Upstate New York. And our outcomes are among the best in the nation.

You can see the excellent outcomes of our transplantation program by visiting:

• United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients

We aim to make this as simple and stress-free as possible for patients and their families. For patients traveling from out of town, we have partnerships with local organizations that provide your family with affordable places to stay, such as the Hope Lodge and Harbor House.

Our Team and Approach

Our definition of success extends far beyond the operating room. We commit the time and resources to making your life after the transplant itself as successful as possible. It takes a team to perform a transplant. We’ve gathered a team of expert surgeons from all over the world.

The University of Rochester founded the biopsychosocial model, which treats the whole patient rather than just disease. We consider all your life circumstances, personalizing your treatment based on what’s best for you. This includes providing a transplant psychiatrist and social worker who look after your mental and emotional health.

Our kidney transplant team includes:

• Transplant surgeons who perform your procedure
• Nephrologists who take care of your kidneys before and after surgery
• Pharmacists who dispense medication, answer questions, and consult with doctors about which medications are best for you
• Psychiatrist for your mental and emotional health
• Social worker who helps you and your family understand and process your diagnosis
• Transplant coordinator who helps guide you through the transplant process and understand it
• Dietitians who help ensure you are getting proper nutrition and educate you on the type of diet you may need to follow before and after your transplant
• Transplant ID physicians who prevent and treat infectious complications in pre- and post-transplant patients
• Patients themselves, who are important members of their care team. You will be kept up-to-date about your treatment and be involved in the decision-making

Evaluation for Transplant

In order to learn about transplant and if it may be right for you, we require the patient and their primary caregiver review the following.

• Donating a Kidney: Financial Coverage
• Kidney Transplant Education Session
• Kidney Transplant Medication Costs
• Patient Information for the Use of Hepatitis C Infected Organs in Hepatitis C Negative Recipients
• Pediatric Transplant Education Session

Requirements for Discharge After Transplant

In order to learn about how to take care of your new organ and manage life post-transplant, we require the patient and their primary caregiver review the following at the time of discharge.

• After Your Kidney Transplantation Surgery
• Post-Transplant Teaching Class