Kidney transplant

A transplant evaluation will determine if and when you would benefit from a kidney transplant. You may not qualify immediately for a transplant, but starting the process sooner promotes seamless integration into the kidney transplant program. This is particularly important given that almost all of those with kidney conditions leading to stage 4 or greater chronic renal failure are suitable candidates for transplant education and evaluation.

Do I have to be on dialysis to qualify for a kidney transplant?

You do not have to be on dialysis to be eligible for a transplant. Historically, transplanted kidneys have superior abilities to filter your blood (greater than dialysis treatments), mostly resulting in improved quality of life and long-term health.

If and when you are called in for a kidney transplant procedure, you can expect it to last approximately three to four hours under general anesthesia.

Transplantation if you have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Advances in the treatment of HIV have resulted in improved survival and better outcomes for those with HIV. As a result, kidney transplants have emerged as important considerations HIV and kidney failure.

Our team continues to successfully serve those who are HIV-positive. We know that some HIV drugs can interact with anti-rejection medications, which is why we work closely with infectious disease specialists and pharmacists to make sure you have no complications.

Kidney transplant surgery can be an all-encompassing process. Depending on your unique condition, we recognize that there are other factors that may be weighing on both your body and your mind, so make sure that we have proper services to accommodate. Some of these additional resources include:

• Financial counseling
• Pregnancy counseling
• Transplant education classes
• Urologic care

Kidney paired donation (KPD) program

For family members that would like to donate a kidney to a friend or other family member, but may not be a match, our KPD program is here to help. Through the program, you can be paired with another recipient who also has a non-matching donor, creating a circle of recipients and donors.

The process involves a computer database that may match a potential recipient with a willing donor. A number of transplant centers are members of this alliance, increasing the possible number of matches. If a computer match is found, the involved transplant centers work closely to coordinate the surgeries and the medical follow-up for the care of all involved.

With the number of waitlisted patients for kidney transplant increasing every year, and the lack of available deceased donor organs available for transplant, finding a living donor remains an important part of the solution. However, finding a compatible living donor can be difficult for someone in need of a kidney.

Almost 60 percent of people in need of a transplant don’t ask even one person to consider donating because they find it awkward to discuss donations with others.

This is why becoming a Living Donor Champion (LDC) is important. Anyone, including a spouse, significant other, family member, or friend, can become an LDC.

As an LDC, you will receive the education and training you need to help your loved one find a living donor.

The Kidney Transplant Center at HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke's provides you with the skills to become an effective advocate for your loved one and empowers you with all the information you need.

Our series of classes provides you with:

• Information about kidney disease, dialysis, and the transplant process.
• Tips and strategies for initiating a conversation with potential living donor candidates.
• Materials, brochures, business cards and social media resources to build a social network to find a living donor for your loved one.
• Close guidance and follow-up strategies throughout the process.
• Collaboration with former LDCs and mentors.

If you have any questions about the Living Donor Champion program or would like to attend a class, please call us at (720) 754-2155 or chose from an in-person or virtual class.

Living donation is when a living person donates an organ (or part of an organ) for transplantation to another person. The living donor can be a family member or can come from someone unrelated.

In fact, you don’t even need to have the same blood type as your potential donor to get a kidney because there are internal paired exchange programs and national paired exchange programs offering an incompatible pair to match up with another incompatible pair; allowing the two donors to switch recipients.

Click here to determine if you qualify as a Living Kidney Donor.