Transplant services

The first step in the transplant process is to undergo an evaluation. During this part of the process, our doctors are here to really get to know you and understand everything they can about your condition and any related conditions.

You will meet with a team of specialists who will collect information about your unique situation, including your:

• Condition and the health of the organ being affected
• Overall physical health
• Mental health
• And any additional information that may be relevant to your treatment

Once our team has met and reviewed all aspects of your case, they will make a recommendation on whether or not you are eligible for a transplant.

Your transplant team and surgeon will discuss the benefits and risks of the surgery with you during your evaluation and are available to answer any questions you may have.

The next step in the transplant process is to find a donor with an organ compatible with you. This is something your transplant team will discuss with you.

There are two main avenues for finding a donor — deceased donors and living donors.

Deceased donor transplant

Donating a deceased individual's healthy organ(s) allows recipients to continue living long and full lives. Many of our transplant donations are made by the families of deceased individuals who believe in "giving back."

Living donor transplant

In some cases, receiving an organ from a living donor is possible. Receiving a living donor organ transplant is usually preferable to a deceased donor transplant. This is because living donor organs function longer in the body and provide better patient survival rates than deceased donor organs. This will also eliminate your need to stay on the waitlist for a deceased donor.

Living donor transplants are usually possible with organs such as the kidney, where a patient can offer to donate one of their own organs. Sometimes, partial donations from a living donor are also possible.

Doctors may recommend a patient for a kidney transplant when the kidneys are no longer functioning properly. This can be due to long-term or acute kidney failure.

After your transplant surgery, you will meet regularly with your doctors and transplant team to monitor the progress of the transplant. Additionally, your doctors will create and discuss your individualized postoperative care plan, which may include lifestyle changes to prevent any damage to the new organ.