What is Kidney Transplantation Surgery?
Kidney transplantation is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is placed into a patient whose kidneys have stopped working properly. The transplanted kidney takes over the work of filtering waste and balancing fluids in the body, improving quality of life and survival.
This procedure helps to:
- Restore kidney function in patients with end-stage renal disease
- Eliminate the need for long-term dialysis
- Improve energy levels and overall health
- Regulate fluid and electrolyte balance
- Enhance long-term life expectancy
What to expect during the procedure?
- Performed under general anesthesia in a hospital operating room
- The donor kidney is placed in the lower abdomen and connected to blood vessels and the bladder
- The patient’s own kidneys are usually left in place
- Surgery typically lasts 3–4 hours
- Hospital stay is around 5–10 days for recovery and monitoring
- Lifelong medication is needed to prevent rejection
