Living Kidney Donation, Paired Donation, & Renal Autotransplant
Contact Us
Phone: 801-581-2634
Toll-free: 800-824-2073
University of Utah Health's kidney transplant program has been caring for patients with end-stage renal disease since 1965. In 1977, the program became a Medicare-approved center. Since that time we have continued to do a high number of adult and pediatric kidney transplants with survival rates higher than the national average.
We know that patients have unique needs. We provide different types of kidney transplantation to best serve patients and their families. We offer:
Our kidney transplant program takes a multidisciplinary approach, providing patients access to a team of health care professionals who are experienced in all medical and surgical aspects of transplantation, including board-certified adult and pediatric transplant nephrologists.
New Referral Process
To make the referral process easier for you, we have set up an online medical history questionnaire. We need to fully understand your medical history before we can start your evaluation as a candidate for kidney transplant.
Completing the questionnaire will take you about 45 minutes. With this information, we can get you the most efficient care because our transplant team will fully understand your needs.
We also offer virtual health visits at this time (due to COVID-19).
Find a Kidney Transplant Physician
Kidney Transplant Process
Evaluation
Kidney transplant evaluation is usually done on an outpatient basis unless you are critically ill and need to be hospitalized. In addition to meeting with members of the kidney transplant team, during the evaluation you will have appointments with other specialists and undergo a number of pre-transplant tests.
These pre-transplant tests, as well as giving a clear picture of the your overall health status, will help your transplant team identify potential health problems before they happen. These pre-transplant tests also help determine if having kidney transplant surgery is truly the best option for you.
Before Surgery
The Call
Once you have been placed on the transplant list, 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, and
- 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:
- a chest x-ray,
- an ECG,
- urine tests,
- blood tests, and
- a history and physical.
The transplant surgeon will talk with you and your family about the surgery and intra-operative and post-operative risk.
Kidney Transplant Procedure
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 inside your mouth.
Your surgeon will make an incision (cut) on your belly. Your surgeon will then place the kidney inside your body 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. Your surgeon will also place a urinary catheter inside your body to allow the new urine to be drained from your bladder.
Once the surgery is over, 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 your transplant team will start discharge teaching.
The average length of stay in the hospital is five to seven days.
After Transplant
After your transplant you will be given a kidney transplant owner’s manual prior to discharge. This manual will cover in detail almost everything you need to know about your transplant. Topics that will be covered include the following:
- Medications
- Types of infections
- How to prevent infections
- Possible viruses after transplant
- Kidney transplant rejection
- Post transplant clinic schedule
- Important labs
- Clinic schedule
- What to do in an emergency
Your assigned post kidney transplant coordinator will cover all this information with you. Your coordinator will be available to you during business hours Monday-Friday. If you have an emergency after business hours, you can contact the on-call transplant coordinator.
Once you return home, we will draw labs twice a week. This will give us information on your kidney function; it is very important that you do these as ordered. You will also follow-up in our transplant clinic as ordered by our physicians.
Meet Our Patients & Donors
Health Insurance
Health insurance coverage, contracts, and payment may be subject to changes beyond the control of University of Utah Health. The University of Utah Transplant Department will contact your insurance and verify that your insurance is contracted with our facility and providers.
If your insurance is not contracted, we will attempt a single-case-agreement for transplant services to be performed at the University of Utah. Ultimately the patient is responsible for payment related to all services.
Hear From Our Specialists
For More Information Call 801-581‑2634 or
Self Refer or Refer a Patient