A kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney into a
person with kidney failure. Kidney transplants are one of the
most common transplant operations in the United States. One
donated kidney is needed to replace the work previously done by
your kidneys. The donated kidney may be from: The healthy kidney
is transported in cool salt water (saline) that preserves the
organ for up to 48 hours. This gives the health care providers
time to perform tests that match the donor's and recipient's
blood and tissue before the operation. PROCEDURE FOR A LIVING
KIDNEY DONOR If you are donating a kidney, you will be placed
under general anesthesia before surgery. This means you will be
asleep and pain-free. Usually, surgeons today can use small
surgical cuts with laparoscopic techniques. See kidney removal
for more information. PROCEDURE FOR THE PERSON RECEIVING THE
KIDNEY (RECIPIENT) People receiving a kidney transplant are
given general anesthesia before surgery. The surgeon makes a cut
in the lower belly area. K