GLOSSARY

A kidney transplant is the surgical placement of a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person with end-stage kidney failure. It is the best treatment for end-stage kidney failure and offers longer survival and better quality of life than dialysis.

Surgical Features

• Site: the new kidney is usually placed in the pelvis (iliac fossa) and connected to the iliac artery and vein and the bladder; the diseased kidneys are usually not removed.
• Living donor: a healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney; the remaining kidney compensates for part of the lost function through hypertrophy.
• Survival of the graft: a kidney from a living donor lasts on average about 15–20 years, and one from a deceased donor about 10–15 years.

Immunosuppressive Drugs

To prevent rejection, the patient must take drugs such as tacrolimus, mycophenolate and corticosteroids for life; these increase the risk of infection