The chart below shows the number of kidney transplants performed each year from January 1, 2003 - May 31, 2009.
Based on current OPTN data as reported on August 21, 2009. Data subject to change based on future data submission or correction.
Common Diseases That May Lead to Transplantation
The process of being admitted and preparing for transplant surgery can vary greatly. Talk to your physician about how your transplant hospital will handle this phase of the process.
The Procedure
An incision is made in the lower part of one side of the abdomen, the donor kidney is placed in the recipient, and blood vessels and the ureter from the donor kidney are connected to vessels in the recipient. The recipient's kidney is typically not removed unless special circumstances are identified by the surgeon. Once all connections have been made, the incision is closed.
The kidney or renal transplant surgical procedure takes approximately three to four hours to complete. Because the length of this surgery is different for every patient, families should talk with the surgeon about what to expect.
During Recovery
Postoperative care begins with a team of heath professionals within the hospital. Careful, comprehensive post-surgical monitoring constantly evaluates whether the body is accepting the new organ. In addition, the amount of time you spend in the recovery room, waking up and getting to the point that you're ready to go home, will vary from patient to patient. Because individual experience after recovery is so unique, it is important to discuss with your physician what to expect after surgery.
