About Kidney Transplantation

Patients with advanced kidney disease or already on maintenance dialysis are considered for a kidney transplant. Because there is a long waiting period for a kidney and the potential for continued decline in health while waiting, we encourage transplant candidates to seek early referral.

We recognize the complex needs of transplant donors and recipients, both before and after surgery. Our new Transplant Surgery Center is a central resource for all transplant-related issues.

Additionally, we treat large numbers of African-Americans, allowing us to offer a greater understanding about the factors that uniquely affect African-Americans with kidney disease.

The Harper University Hospital Kidney transplant program offers living and cadaver donor transplantation.

Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation:

Benefits of Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation to the Recipient

• The procedure can be scheduled even before the patient needs dialysis, eliminating the complications associated with dialysis.
• The wait for a cadaver kidney in the state of Michigan can be very long during which time the patient's health may decline on dialysis. With living-donor transplantation, the waiting time can be reduced to just a few weeks.
• The chance of rejection is less with a living donor; short- and long-term outcomes are superior; and the overall cost and length of hospital stay are less.
• The long-term results of living-donor kidney transplants between unrelated donors (spouse, distant relative and friend) are as good as between related donors (parents, siblings and children).

Some Facts For Donors Regarding Living Kidney Donation

• The living donor undergoes extensive medical evaluation prior to transplantation, sometimes revealing previously undetected conditions.
• In suitable candidates, the kidney can be removed laparoscopically, with smaller skin incisions than traditional surgery, less pain after surgery, shorter hospital stay and quicker return to work.
• After donation, life expectancy is unchanged and the chances of developing high blood pressure or kidney disease are similar to that of the general population
• Healthy kidney donors can obtain and maintain life and health insurance at standard rates.
• The majority of kidney donors call their experience "exceedingly positive," would donate again if given the choice, and experience "enhanced self-worth and sense of well-being."
• Risk of death is generally the same as that associated with any major surgery performed under general anesthesia on a healthy patient. The major complication rate is two per 1000 cases and the minor complication rate is 8 percent.

Cadaver Transplantation

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and the Transplantation Society of Michigan (TSM) maintain the transplant waiting list for Michigan residents. UNOS and TSM are committed to the fair and equitable distribution of organs, which is based on a computerized and nationally agreed-upon point system. Harper University Hospital Transplant Program a member of both of these organizations.

If it is decided that cadaver transplantation is the best option for you, your transplant coordinator will assist you with getting on the waiting list. During the waiting period, our transplant team will periodically update your medical status and share this information with your referring physician. This evaluation includes yearly visits to our Transplant Surgery Center.