Kidney transplants offer the best results and significantly improve quality of life. Successful kidney transplant procedures occur daily in the United States. Kidneys for transplantation may come from living related donors, living unrelated donors, or individuals who have passed away from unrelated causes (cadaveric donors). For individuals with type I diabetes, a combined kidney-pancreas transplant is often the preferred choice.
Nevertheless, not everyone qualifies for a kidney transplant. Patients must undergo extensive assessments to confirm their eligibility for transplantation. Additionally, there is a shortage of available organs for transplantation, which necessitates patients waiting for months to years before they can receive a transplant.
Individuals in need of a kidney transplant undergo a series of tests to assess their immune system characteristics. A successful transplant requires that the recipient's characteristics closely match those of the donor. The more closely aligned these characteristics are, the higher the likelihood of long-term transplant success. Transplants from living related donors generally yield the best outcomes.
Transplant surgery is a major procedure and typically requires a hospital stay of four to seven days. All transplant recipients must take immunosuppressant medications throughout their lives to prevent rejection of the new kidney. These medications necessitate vigilant monitoring of blood levels and may increase the risk of infections, as well as certain types of cancer.