After Kidney Transplant Care
Look to the transplant team at University Health for safe, high-quality care that helps your child recover after a kidney transplant.
High-Quality Care and Patient Outcomes
Feel confident about the post-transplant care your child will receive at University Health. Our Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) report reveals that we have outstanding patient outcomes for pediatric kidney transplants.
Intensive Care and Recovery
Our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) team will watch your child closely after surgery. We’ll keep your child’s comfort and safety top of mind while monitoring:
- Bladder functions
- Fluids
- Lung functions
- Pain
Kidney Transplant Outcomes
A living donor kidney may work sooner after transplant than one that came from someone who died. If the new kidney does not start working right away, your child may need dialysis for a short time after the transplant.
Hospital Care and Stay
An experienced team of specialists will provide daily care for your child in the hospital. Our goal is to help your child recover as quickly and safely as possible. We can also answer questions about your child’s health and recovery.
Talk to your doctors about how long your child will stay in the hospital after transplantation. The average hospital stay for an uncomplicated pediatric kidney transplant is five to six days.
Kidney Rejection Prevention
Rejection is the body’s normal reaction to something foreign, like your child’s new kidney. Your transplant team takes steps to prevent rejection by giving your child anti-rejection medications (called immunosuppressants). One of the most important things you can do is make sure your child takes the medication every day.
Medications After Transplant
Your transplant care team will explain how medications help your child after a kidney transplant. Medications help:
- Improve blood flow to the new kidney
- Prevent infections
- Protect against kidney rejection
- Stop stomach ulcers
Detailed Patient and Family Education
As your child recovers from kidney transplantation, your transplant coordinator will teach your family how to care for him or her at home. You’ll learn about the importance of:- Attending appointments for follow-up health checks
- Eating nutritious foods
- Following short-term activity restrictions
- Identifying signs of infection or rejection
- Managing overall health
Follow-Up Care After Transplant
Your child will continue to see the transplant care team after going home from the hospital. Attend follow-up appointments twice a week for the first month at the Pediatric Transplant Clinic. Your child’s doctor will do follow-up testing and lab work to ensure the kidney is working properly. Gradually, the time between your clinic visits will spread out.
Transplant Outreach Clinics
If you are far from San Antonio, check with your transplant team to see if you can take your child to follow-up appointments at one of our transplant outreach clinics closer to your home. We have easy-access clinics in the South Texas cities of Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Laredo and New Braunfels.
Life After Kidney Transplant
Your child will be out of school for at least eight weeks. When your child returns, he or she may be more susceptible to illness because of the anti-rejection medication. Your transplant doctor will let you know when your child can return to school and participate in other age-appropriate activities.
