Kidney transplantation is a treatment option for some people with advanced kidney failure. During the procedure, a healthy kidney from a suitable living or deceased donor is transplanted into the recipient. A transplant can restore kidney filtration, but it requires lifelong medical follow-up and medicines to reduce the risk of rejection.
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy donor kidney is placed into a person whose kidneys are no longer functioning adequately.
The transplanted kidney takes over much of the work normally performed by the kidneys, including filtering waste and helping regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. The original kidneys are usually left in place unless there is a specific medical reason to remove them.
For additional patient-friendly information, see NIDDK – Kidney Transplant .
Kidney transplantation may be considered for selected patients with advanced chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
Eligibility depends on factors such as:
A transplant centre performs detailed evaluation before deciding whether transplantation is appropriate.
For information about chronic kidney disease, read Acute & Chronic Kidney Diseases .
A kidney may come from:
A living donor may be a relative or another suitable person who has undergone detailed medical evaluation and compatibility testing.
A deceased-donor kidney comes from a person who has died and whose organs have been approved for donation according to applicable medical and legal processes.
The transplant team determines donor-recipient compatibility based on several clinical factors.
Before transplantation, the recipient undergoes a detailed evaluation at a transplant centre.
This may include:
The donor also undergoes a separate medical evaluation to ensure that donation is medically suitable.
Cross-matching is a blood test used to assess whether the recipient’s immune system is likely to react against the donor kidney.
It is part of the transplant compatibility process and helps the transplant team estimate the risk of immune rejection.
During kidney transplant surgery, the donor kidney is usually placed in the lower abdomen.
The surgeon connects the donor kidney’s blood vessels to the recipient’s blood vessels and connects the donor ureter to the bladder so urine can drain normally.
The procedure is performed by a transplant surgical team in an appropriately equipped transplant centre.
No. A kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney failure, but it is not considered a cure.
The transplanted kidney requires ongoing monitoring, and patients usually need lifelong immunosuppressive medicines to reduce the risk of rejection.
Patients also require regular follow-up with their transplant and nephrology team.
After kidney transplantation, patients are usually prescribed immunosuppressive medicines.
These medicines reduce the immune system’s tendency to attack the transplanted kidney.
Because immunosuppressive medicines can also increase the risk of infection and other complications, regular monitoring is important.
Patients should take medicines exactly as prescribed and should not stop or change them without medical advice.
Rejection occurs when the immune system recognises the transplanted kidney as foreign and attacks it.
Rejection may sometimes occur even when medicines are taken correctly.
Possible warning signs can include:
However, rejection may sometimes be detected through blood tests before symptoms appear.
Follow-up commonly includes:
Some patients may require a kidney biopsy if the transplant team needs more information about graft function.
For related information, read Kidney Biopsy .
Kidney transplantation involves both surgical and medical risks.
Possible complications may include:
The treating transplant team discusses individual risks before surgery.
If the transplanted kidney functions adequately, regular dialysis may no longer be required.
However, some transplanted kidneys may take time to begin functioning, and dialysis may occasionally be needed temporarily. Long-term dialysis may also be required if the transplanted kidney later loses function.
For related information, see Nephrology Services .
Dialysis helps remove waste and excess fluid when the kidneys are unable to do so adequately.
A functioning kidney transplant performs many kidney functions continuously, but transplantation involves surgery, donor availability, immunosuppressive medicines and ongoing monitoring.
The most appropriate treatment depends on the patient’s health, transplant eligibility, personal circumstances and specialist assessment.
Post-transplant care may include:
The goal of follow-up is to monitor transplant function and identify complications early.
No duration can be guaranteed.
How long a transplanted kidney functions varies from patient to patient and depends on multiple factors, including donor type, immune compatibility, rejection episodes, infections, medication adherence and other medical conditions.
Patients should seek medical advice if they develop:
Urgent symptoms should be assessed by the transplant team or an appropriate hospital service.
If you have advanced kidney disease or questions about kidney transplantation, contact the clinic for consultation information and appropriate specialist evaluation.
View Contact InformationNo. Eligibility depends on overall health, surgical fitness, infections, other medical conditions and transplant-centre assessment.
A family member may be considered as a living donor if medical evaluation confirms that donation is safe and compatibility requirements are met.
Yes. Some rejection episodes may first be detected through rising creatinine or other test abnormalities rather than obvious symptoms.
No. Kidney biopsy is performed only when clinically indicated, such as when the transplant team needs additional information about kidney function or possible rejection.
Patients in Navi Mumbai, Vashi and Ulwe can review Dr. Jyoti Bansode’s consultation locations for nephrology and transplant-related follow-up.