Transplants

When your kidneys fail, treatment is needed to replace the work your own kidneys can no longer do.  There are two types of treatment for kidney failure — dialysis or transplant. Many people feel that a kidney transplant offers more freedom and a better quality of life than dialysis.  In making a decision about whether this is the best treatment for you, you may find it helpful to talk to people who already have a kidney transplant. You also need to speak to your doctor, nurse, and family members.

When you get a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney is placed inside your body to do the work your own kidneys can no longer do.  

On the plus side, there are fewer limits on what you can eat and drink, but you should follow a heart-healthy diet. Your health and energy should improve.  In fact, a successful kidney transplant may allow you to live the kind of life you were living before you got kidney disease. Studies show that people with kidney transplants live longer than those who remain on dialysis.

On the minus side, there are the risks of surgery.  You will also need to take anti-rejection medicines for as long as your new kidney is working, which can have side effects.  You will have a higher risk for infections and certain types of cancer.

Although most transplants are successful and last for many years, how long they last can vary from one person to the next. Many people will need more than one kidney transplant during their lifetime.

If you’re in kidney failure, ask your healthcare provider to refer you to a transplant center for an evaluation, or contact a transplant center in your area. Any kidney patient can ask for an evaluation.

Learn more about kidney transplants here.

Organ Donations

Many people who need transplants of organs and tissues cannot get them because of a shortage of donations. Every month, more than 2,000 new names are added to the national waiting list for organ transplants. About 16 or 17 people die every day while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ such as a kidney, heart or liver.

A donated kidney may come from someone who died and donated a healthy kidney. A person who has died and donated a kidney is called a deceased donor.

Donated kidneys also can come from a living donor. This person may be a blood relative (like a brother or sister) or a non-blood relative (like a husband or wife). They can also come from a friend or even a stranger.

Indiana Transplant Centers

Additional Resources

1. E-STAR: This website provides a public dashboard for the Early Steps to Transplant Access Registry (E-STAR), showcasing data on early steps in the kidney transplant process for patients with kidney failure (e.g.,  referral and evaluation metrics)  https://estardashboard.shinyapps.io/public/
2. Transplant Center Search: This website helps patients compare organ transplant programs based on their criteria, using SRTR data for personalized decision support.  https://transplantcentersearch.org/
3. Kidney Transplant Compare: An IPRO ESRD Network app that helps users compare kidney transplant center characteristics (e.g., patient selection criteria, support services, and outcomes data)  and learn about transplant options.  https://esrd.ipro.org/kidney-transplant-compare/
4. iChoose Kidney app:  A free app available for download in the Apple store created by the Regenstrief Institute that offers risk prediction models to help nephrologists and patients make informed decisions about kidney failure treatment options. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ichoose-kidney-educational/id685381934