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Kidney transplant

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure performed to restore proper kidney function when your kidney is no longer able to function on its own. A donor kidney will be used to replace the failing kidney with a healthy one.

Kidney transplant center in Denver

A kidney transplant is a life-changing experience that can have far-reaching physical and emotional benefits.

At Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, our multidisciplinary kidney transplant team understands the seriousness of a transplant. We are there to guide and advise you, all while answering your questions. We also collaborate with medical and surgical personnel to ensure coordinated, family-centered care that continues from evaluation and surgery to post-transplant recovery.

Expert advice, available 24/7

Free medical advice is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.

Free medical advice is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.

Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties.

Conditions that may require a kidney transplant

Transplants are typically recommended if you are approaching 25 percent or less kidney function. There are several conditions that can cause this, including:

  • Acute renal injury
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Diabetes
  • End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
  • Hypertension
  • Infections
  • Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Services in our kidney transplant program

We work with you during your condition's earliest stages so you can be evaluated and start learning about the process.

Evaluation for a 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.

Kidney transplant surgery

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.

Additional kidney transplant services

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.

Become a living donor champion

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 P/SL 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 Kidney Donation

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.

Helpful information about kidney transplants

Having a procedure like a kidney transplant is a big step. We understand that you want to and should be as informed as possible before having major surgery.

Additional resources

We want to connect you to online resources so that you may do additional research on your own. These online resources include:


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Our Kidney transplant Locations

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Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center
1719 E 19th Ave
Denver, CO 80218
 (720) 754 - 6000

Currently Viewing:

Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center
1719 E 19th Ave
Denver, CO 80218
 (720) 754 - 6000

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