Kidney Transplant Surgery

Find patient-centered care from an experienced transplant team and a supportive care team who are passionate about improving your life through transplantation.

Robotic Surgery for Living Kidney Donations

Our expert team is consistently combining advanced technology with compassionate care for both patients and donors. That is why our surgical team uses the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System for living kidney donations.

As the only transplant center in South Texas with this advanced robotic system, our transplant surgeons are able to perform minimally invasive nephrectomies or the surgical removal of a kidney.

Not only does this procedure provide a high-definition, 3D view of the surgical site, it has many benefits for the patient too, including:

• Better outcomes
• Shorter recovery times
• Minimal complications

The robotic surgery is a safe alternative to conventional laparoscopic nephrectomy. It also widens the pool of donors eligible for kidney donation.

The da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System was funded by the generous donations to University Health Foundation

What to Expect Before Transplantation

If you face kidney failure, work with the expert team at University Health to determine whether a kidney transplant is right for you. The assessment process includes:

• Doctor or self-referral
• Your first visit
• Evaluation and testing
• Candidacy and selection
• Living donation or waiting list

When a Kidney Becomes Available

A transplant coordinator will call you at the phone number you provided when a deceased-donor kidney is available for you.

You’ll receive specific instructions about what to do and when to go to University Health Transplant Institute in San Antonio. Do not eat or drink anything after notification to come for a transplant.

Bring:

• Health insurance information
• Prepacked suitcase

Preparation for Surgery

Expect your transplant care team to perform several pre-transplant tests to ensure you are ready for your kidney transplant.

Reasons to Delay

Sometimes we have to cancel transplants because:

• There’s a problem with the donor kidney
• Your final crossmatch test is positive, meaning you have antibodies against the donor kidney and your body would reject the transplanted kidney
• You have a new medical problem that we did not know about
• You have signs of infection

Informed Consent

We will obtain your informed consent before a transplant operation. This means you decide whether or not to have a transplant.

Your Transplant Surgery

Your kidney transplant will take place the day you arrive at the University Health Transplant Institute. The surgery takes between two and four hours. You’ll be under general anesthesia. Your skilled, experienced transplant surgeon will:

• Make an incision approximately 6 inches long just above the groin
• Remove your damaged kidney
• Attach the artery and vein of your new kidney to one of your existing arteries and veins
• Attach your new kidney’s ureter (the tube that carries urine to the bladder) to your bladder

After surgery, you will recover in a dedicated transplant intensive care unit.