Also known as: kidney transplantation, transplantation
Only a transplant team can provide a definitive determination of your eligibility for a kidney transplant. The majority of kidney transplants are highly successful, with over 90% of them maintaining function one year after the procedure. Recent research has indicated that the likelihood of favorable outcomes is somewhat higher with a “preemptive” transplant, performed before the necessity for dialysis arises. A preemptive transplant necessitates a willing living kidney donor, often a family member, spouse, or friend. In 2001, 42% of kidney transplants were conducted using living donors.
In cases where a living donor is not available, you have the option to request placement on a national waiting list to receive a deceased donor kidney, typically from an individual who has recently passed away, often due to an accident. Once your evaluation is completed, and you are added to the waiting list, the waiting period begins when your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls to 20 mL/min or lower. Lengthy waiting periods, sometimes extending for several years, are common for kidney transplants involving deceased donors.
