Surgery
The Call
Once you have been placed on the transplant, you may receive a very important call. When a kidney donor becomes available, the on call coordinator will call you. The coordinator will instruct you:
- When to come to the hospital.
- When to stop eating or drinking.
The Admission Process
Before the surgery you will go to the admitting department unless otherwise instructed. You will then have several pre-operative tests to prepare you for surgery. You will have:
- Chest x-ray
- ECG
- Urine tests
- Blood tests
- A history and physical.
The transplant surgeon will talk with you and your family about the surgery and intra-operative and post-operative risk.
Surgery
Once you are taken to the operating room, the anesthesiologist will give you medication to put you to sleep during the surgery. At this time your heart rate and rhythm and breathing will be monitored. You will also have a breathing tube placed.
The surgeon will make an incision on the abdomen. He will then place the kidney in and attach the blood vessels that take blood to and from the leg. The ureter will be attached to the bladder, to drain urine from the new kidney. A urinary catheter will be placed to allow the new urine to be drained from the bladder.
Once the surgery is completed you will be taken to the Intensive Care Unit. On this unit they will closely monitor you. The nurses will be monitoring your vital signs, fluid input and output. Once you are stable, you will be taken to a surgical floor. At this time discharge teaching will begin. The average length of stay in the hospital will be five to seven days.
