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Kidney Transplantation
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Transplantation Donation

Kidney Transplantation

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure that replaces failed kidneys with a healthy donor organ, eliminating the need for dialysis.

Overview

A kidney transplant is an operation that places a healthy kidney in your body. The transplanted kidney takes over the work of the two kidneys that failed, so you no longer need dialysis.

The Procedure

During a transplant, the surgeon places the new kidney in your lower abdomen and connects the artery and vein of the new kidney to your artery and vein. Often, the new kidney will start making urine as soon as your blood starts flowing through it. However, it sometimes takes a few weeks to start working.

Donation and Aftercare

Many transplanted kidneys come from donors who have died, while some come from a living family member. The wait for a new kidney can be long.

If you have a transplant, you must take drugs for the rest of your life to keep your body from rejecting the new kidney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Patients typically take a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor (e.g., tacrolimus or cyclosporine), an antimetabolite (e.g., mycophenolate mofetil), and a corticosteroid (e.g., prednisone). The calcineurin inhibitor blocks T‑cell activation, the antimetabolite inhibits DNA synthesis in immune cells, and the steroid reduces overall inflammation, together minimizing the chance that the body will attack the new kidney.
Most kidneys begin to produce urine within minutes to hours after blood flow is restored, but full functional recovery may take a few weeks. You should monitor urine output, blood tests for creatinine and eGFR, and watch for signs such as swelling, fever, or unusual pain, which could signal rejection or complications.
Living‑donor transplants usually have shorter waiting times (often a few weeks to months) and better immediate graft function because the kidney is fresh and the surgery is planned. Deceased‑donor kidneys may wait months to years, and the kidney may have been stored for a longer period, which can slightly increase the risk of delayed graft function. However, both types can provide excellent long‑term outcomes when matched well.
Maintain a balanced diet low in sodium, moderate in protein, and rich in fruits and vegetables; stay hydrated; avoid nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., NSAIDs); keep blood pressure and blood sugar under control; exercise regularly but avoid high‑impact activities; and take all medications exactly as prescribed, checking in with your transplant team regularly.===
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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