Transplant Surgery

Research Where You Get Your Transplant

You can compare transplant centers online by the organ transplant you're seeking. Search the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), a national database of statistics related to organ transplantation. The registry covers organ donation, waiting list candidates, transplant recipients and survival stats. Visit SRTR.org to view a full list of transplant activities for the Sanford Transplant Center.

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What Happens on the National Wait List?

Once you are placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) wait list, organs are assigned to local patients first, followed by a multi-state region and then nationally. Waiting for an organ can take months, even years. During that time, you'll need to return to a Sanford Transplant Center annually to update your information.

What to Expect in Kidney Transplant Surgery

Kidney transplant surgery typically takes three to four hours. Prior to operation, the physician will examine you and complete blood work and x-rays to ensure optimal surgery conditions. You'll get general anesthesia, and the surgeon will place the donor kidney. If you still have one or both of your diseased kidneys, they will likely not be removed as they generally cause no further harm.

What Happens After a Kidney Transplant?

Following surgery, you will stay in the hospital for four to seven days. You'll get medication based on your needs. Providers will check for any complications such as rejection. Once discharged, you will need to follow up with your transplant team on a regular basis.

How to Start the Transplant Process

There are two options to begin pursuing a transplant:

1.  Physician Referral. Speak to your physician to begin the process.
2. Self-referral.

Where Donor Kidneys Come From

You can receive a donor kidney from two main sources:

1. Living donor: related or unrelated
2. Cadaveric donor: deceased with consent

Living donor kidneys are preferred as they are removed under ideal conditions and the donor is in strong health. Recipients experience better kidney function for a longer period of time.

What to Expect When You Donate an Organ

Donating an organ can be a very rewarding experience. A common living-donor transplant is a kidney transplant.

All potential living donors must make the first contact with the transplant program and undergo an evaluation. The rate of recovery is different for each person, but you should expect a lifting restriction of no more than 10 pounds for the first six weeks, with gradual increase after that.

After donation, you continue to have normal kidney function. No lifestyle changes or medications are necessary.