Kidney Transplant
Do You Need a Kidney Transplant?
When you have kidney disease, treatments may help prevent further damage to your kidneys. If you have a severe or long-term condition that permanently damages your kidneys — such as diabetes or high blood pressure — you may progress to kidney failure that requires dialysis. Kidney transplantation at University Health could allow you to stop dialysis and lead to a better quality of life.
How to Get Transplant Care
Choose University Health for high-quality care when your primary care physician or kidney specialist (nephrologist) recommends transplantation as your best treatment option. Your doctor will start the process by reviewing our patient criteria and referral process to get you into our kidney transplant program. You also can make an appointment without a doctor’s referral.
Benefits of Kidney Transplant
Expect positive health effects from a kidney transplant, including:
- Increased life expectancy compared to dialysis
- Enhanced quality of life through improved health and energy
- Regained sense of independence
Types of Kidney Transplants
We perform the following types of kidney transplants:
- Deceased donor – Your new kidney comes from a deceased donor as it becomes available through the national computerized waiting list known as United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
- Living donor – Your new kidney comes from a living donor you know, like a family member or friend, or possibly someone you do not know. You may be able to receive a kidney transplant more quickly through our living-donor kidney transplant program.
- Living donor, paired donor exchange.
Transplant Process
Your transplant patient journey at University Health will be similar to the following:
- Have your first visit to the Transplant Institute
- Undergo evaluation and testing to determine if you are a candidate for a transplant
- Find out if you are an approved candidate for kidney transplant
- Consider a living kidney donation
- Join the kidney transplant waiting list
- Have kidney transplant surgery
- Recover after transplant surgery and receive follow-up care
Transplant Experience and Expertise
Benefit from the strong history of research, education, innovation, medical expertise and surgical excellence at University Health.
Since 1985, our team has performed more than 1,300 kidney transplants, combined kidney-pancreas transplants and living-donor kidney transplants.
High-Quality, Recognized Kidney Care
Seek care from our doctors and surgeons, who are experts in their fields. You’ll get advanced care tailored to your needs.
Review our transplant quality and recognition information that shows our program has high-quality care and is a designated Center of Excellence by some of the most comprehensive insurance carriers.
Top Patient Survival Rate in South Texas
Get remarkable outcomes for patient survival that exceed national standards, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).
UT Health San Antonio Partnership
In partnership with UT Health San Antonio, our deep expertise, years of experience, devotion to patient-centered care and dedication to research makes us a leader in kidney transplants. We perform transplants for children and adults.
