A kidney transplant is the surgical replacement of a patient’s failed kidneys. These organs can fail due to injury or disease, such as diabetes. Transplants are usually considered only in cases of chronic kidney failure (e.g., end-stage renal disease) when there are few or no other medical options.

Kidney transplants are the best life-extending treatment option for individuals with late-stage kidney disease. About 97 percent of patients with a kidney from a living donor are still alive one year after the procedure, according to the U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. The survival rate drops to 93 percent three years later. Patients who receive cadaver kidneys (from non-living donors) have survival rates of 94 percent after a year and 87 percent after three years. In contrast, only one-third of patients treated with dialysis survive five years after beginning treatments, according to the American Diabetes Association.

A kidney transplant is major surgery. While the patient is under anesthesia, the surgeon implants the new organ into the lower abdomen. The kidney is then attached to the blood supply and the bladder. Many patients report near immediate improvement in how they feel after the transplant.

Following surgery, the patient’s immune system will recognize the new organ as a foreign object and produce a reaction. Patients are given immunosuppressive medications to help prevent rejection of the organ. In addition to organ rejection, other possible side effects of a kidney transplant include bleeding, infection, heart attack and stroke. Some of the medications given after the transplant to prevent rejection can worsen control of glucose (blood sugar).  Overall, the risk of a major side effect is low and most patients live many years with their new kidney.