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Healthcare Services Surgery Transplantation Medical Services and Treatments

Medical Services and Treatments

Services provided at the Shands Jacksonville Transplant Center include:

Kidney Transplantation

All patients receive a thorough evaluation to determine eligibility for transplant surgery. Studies include blood tests, heart evaluation, viral studies, x-ray tests and tissue typing to determine suitability before moving forward with surgical care.

During the initial consultation, the patient, family and potential donors meet with the transplant surgeon, nurse transplant coordinator, social worker and financial coordinator to discuss treatment options, long-term care, psychosocial issues and financial details.

The transplant coordinator educates patients awaiting kidney transplantation and their families and arranges evaluation testing and referrals. They manage the entire process, before, during and after transplant, working with organ procurement agencies and the United Network for Organ Sharing in placing kidneys for transplant to wait-listed patients. When the tests are complete, patients may be placed on the waiting list or scheduled for transplantation, if there is an available, suitable living donor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to evaluate a living donor and recipient?

A: The average time for recipient and donor testing is 4-8 weeks.

Q: If I do not have a living donor, how long does it take to get a transplant after being placed on the waiting list?

A: Most wait-listed patients receive a transplant 6 months to 2 years after being placed on the list. Of the patients transplanted at Shands Jacksonville, about two-thirds receive a kidney within 2 years, with the remaining patients receiving a kidney within 3 to 5 years.

Q: Am I placed on the waiting list when I come in for my first visit?

A: In order to be listed, a patient must be approved by the transplant team. Before this can occur, a series of tests and evaluations must be completed. Results will then be reviewed. Once approved, all patients receive notification of waiting list placement.

Q: Where do donated kidneys come from?

A: There are two types of kidney donors: living donors and deceased donors. Kidneys from living donors are donated by family, friends or even strangers who decided to donate a kidney. The other type of donor is the deceased donor. These kidneys come from people who die as a result of an accident, stroke or other causes. Deceased donors often made their wishes to donate known to family members while alive and well.

Q: Where do they place the kidney and do they take my old ones out?

A: The kidney is placed in the lower abdomen. The surgeon uses the blood vessels in this area to attach the kidney. Your own (native) kidneys are usually left in place.

Q: Will I be on medication for the rest of my life?

A: Yes, you will be on immunosuppressive medication. The amount and dosage may change and you will be on less medication months after transplant than you were immediately after transplant, but you will have to take medications to help fight off rejection of your transplanted kidney.

Treatment Options

The treatment of kidney failure is either dialysis or transplantation. If kidney transplantation is determined to be the most suitable treatment, the source of the transplanted kidney is either a living-donor or deceased-donor kidney.

What to Expect During and After Treatment

Living-kidney donation and kidney transplantation both involve major surgery under general anesthesia. While safe and effective, each operation does have risks. Patients should understand all of the steps taken before, during and after transplant surgery.

Frequently Asked Treatment Questions

Q: How long does the surgery take?

A: On average the transplant surgery takes about 2-4 hours

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Living Kidney Donation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I find out if I am able to donate a kidney?

A: All that is required is a simple blood sample. With this blood sample we perform what is called tissue typing. This procedure determines if your are compatible to donate to someone. In this procedure we determine your blood type and your tissue antigens, which are proteins in your body that determine whether or not you can be a kidney donor. This test must be scheduled through our office, and results may take up to two weeks to obtain.

Q: If I am able to be a kidney donor, what is the next step?

A: After determining by tissue typing that you are a compatible donor, the next step is to assure that it is safe for you to donate a kidney. This is done by conducting a living donor work-up. These tests are all performed on an outpatient basis and can be completed in a week or so as scheduling allows. During this time, many blood and x-ray tests will be performed, most of which are specific for testing your kidney function. After these tests are completed, it will be one to two weeks before we have all the results back and can give you a final answer about being a kidney donor.

Q: If I live outside of the Jacksonville area, how will my evaluation testing occur?

A: We work with various testing facilities and will help locate a facility that is convenient for you.

Q: If it is determined that I can be a donor, and I want to proceed with this, what happens next?

A: If it is safe for you to donate and the recipient (the person receiving the kidney) is also ready, we will schedule the transplant, usually at the donor's convenience. Both you and the recipient will be admitted to the hospital the day of surgery.

Q: How is surgery scheduled? Will I go to surgery first? How long does surgery last?

A: As the donor, you will go into surgery first. The recipient will go next. The length of time for surgery for each of you is approximately two to three hours.

Q: After surgery where will I go?

A: After surgery you will go to the recovery room for about one hour and then taken to an intermediate care or step-down unit for approximately 24 hours.

Q: How long will my incision be? How much pain will I experience?

A: Incision size will vary depending upon the type of kidney removal. Laparoscopic kidney removal uses several small incisions, while minimally invasive kidney removal is usually possible through a single incision of about six inches.

Q: How long will I be hospitalized after surgery? How long is recovery?

A: After surgery you will be in the hospital for two to four days. Total recovery time is about four to six weeks. During this time you should avoid strenuous activity or any heavy lifting.

Q: How are my medical expenses that occur as part of donation and hospital stay paid for?

A: As a donor, all medical expenses will be covered by the recipient's insurance.

Q: Are there any long-term effects I might experience from donating a kidney?

A: After surgery your remaining kidney increases its ability to maintain your body‘s needs. The major risk in your well-being is the loss of the remaining kidney from an accident or injury (kidney loss from injury is a very rare event). All of our tests are designed to ensure that your remaining kidney will be able to allow you to lead a normal life.

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Outpatient Evaluation & Follow-up Care

The Shands Jacksonville Transplant Outpatient Clinic accepts referrals for patients with end-stage organ failure of any type, as well as those with solid organ transplantation of any type. The clinic's staff follows all kidney transplant patients after discharge from the hospital. For patients who live outside the Jacksonville area, outpatient evaluation and follow-up care is coordinated with the patient's local nephrologist.

While Shands Jacksonville does not currently offer liver, heart, lung or pancreas transplants, clinic staff can assist patients who have undergone these procedures.

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