What is a kidney transplant?

A kidney transplant is the surgical placement of a healthy human kidney into the body of a person with kidney failure. The transplanted organ restores kidney function, improving the quality of life for the patient.

Many people think of a kidney transplant as the absolute cure for kidney failure, and though a transplant does improve the quality of life and life expectancy, it is considered a treatment rather than a cure.

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF RECEIVING A TRANSPLANT:

• Feel healthier
• More energy
• Live almost normal life
• Frees patients from dialysis
• Able to work full time without regard to treatment schedule

POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGES OF RECEIVING A TRANSPLANT:

• Possible side effects of medication
• Possible weight gain and body changes
• Required to take costly medication daily
• Current limitations on Medicare coverage of medications
• Rejection risk
• Not everyone will qualify to be a candidate

Each ESRD Network organization has been instructed by CMS to encourage area dialysis facilities to provide timely evaluation of patients for transplantation, as well as other modalities such as peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis.

If you are interested in getting a kidney transplant, you should make sure to tell your kidney doctor and dialysis facility staff. You should be referred for evaluation in a TIMELY manner.

If a relative wishes to give you a kidney, you should inform your facility staff right away.

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Patient Resources 

Kidney Transplant Checklist (English, Spanish)

Seeking a Kidney Transplant? What to Know and Where to Start 

Is a Transplant Right For Me? – Patient Toolkit 

• Video 

Why Transplant Is a Good Idea for Me! (English, Spanish) 

Texas Transplant Center List

Turing Test into Testimony

Motivational Patient Stories 

Your Life Your Choice: Stories from Kidney Transplant Patients and Donors

Planning for a Kidney Transplant (English, Spanish) 

Preparing for a Kidney Transplant (English, Spanish) 

Transplant and Prescription Resources

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National Kidney Foundation Kidney Learning Center 

This website provides interactive education and support on a number of topics, including kidney disease, dialysis, transplant, coping, living well with kidney disease, and living donation. It is designed for kidney patients, families, care partners, living donors and potential kidney donors. To view and complete the course, you will need to create a FREE account. 

• First Steps to Transplant 
• Finding a Living Donor 
• Becoming a Living Donor 
• After Transplant 

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Transplant 101 Series  

• What is a Kidney Transplant? (English, Spanish) 
• What is a Kidney Transplant Center? (English, Spanish) 
• Meet the Members of the Transplant Team (English, Spanish)
• Types of Kidney Donors (English, Spanish)
• The Kidney Transplant Surgery (English, Spanish)
• Post-Transplant Kidney Diet (English, Spanish)
• How Much Does a Kidney Transplant Cost? (English, Spanish) 

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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSPLANTATION, VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: 

• • National Kidney Foundation 
  • Explore Transplant 
  • Living Kidney Donors Network 
  • ESRD NCC Kidney Transplant Hub
  • Transplant Living
  • United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
  • Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)
  • Dialysis Patient Citizens Education Center
  • American Transplant Foundation
  • DonateLife America
  • National Transplant Assistance Fund
  • Kidney School – Transplant Module
  • Transweb