Kidney Transplant

“I wanted to still be a mom,
surgeon, wife and community
servant. My husband, Alex, gave
me all of this through his love
and the gift of one of his kidneys.”
- Dana Jamison, MD
Kidney transplant recipient
Orthopedic surgeon,
Banner Good Samaritan Wound Care
Program

Banner Good Samaritan Transplant Services has a team dedicated to providing the best care available to patients suffering from end- stage kidney disease and requiring a kidney transplant. Our team includes transplant surgeons, nephrologists (physicians specializing in kidney disease), nurse practitioners, transplant nurse coordinators, social workers, nutritionists, financial counselors, and pharmacists.

The team thoroughly evaluates potential recipients referred by the patient’s nephrologist. Testing gives a clear picture of the patient’s overall health status. The evaluation also determines whether transplantation is in the patient's best interest. The outpatient evaluation generally takes two or three days. Results are reviewed by the kidney transplant team.

If accepted for transplantation, the patient is listed with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the national computerized waiting list that matches transplanted recipients with available organs. Patients are prioritized on the waiting list based on waiting time, compatibility between donor and recipient blood types and HLA testing. The average wait time is three to five years. During this time, patients and families are encouraged to take advantage of resources such as including transplant education and support groups.

Kidneys come from two sources:

Deceased donors: Individuals who have been pronounced brain dead.
Living donors: A live person who donates one of their kidneys.

When a donor has been identified, the kidney transplant patient is admitted to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center for the transplant surgery. During surgery, the new kidney is surgically placed in the lower abdomen and attached to the patient’s blood vessels and bladder. This operation takes between three and five hours.

The usual hospital stay is five to seven days. The transplant recipient is helped by a team of experienced staff members about the immuno-suppressive medications needed to prevent rejection, nutrition, coping strategies, and daily care following discharge. Transplant recipients will be monitored at the transplant clinic after they leave the hospital.

In 2008, statistics from the U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients Data showed Banner Good Samaritan’s overall graft survival is 96.7 percent. The national average is 92.8 percent.

A kidney transplant is an exciting, positive event in the life of a person with end-stage kidney disease. It is also an emotional time that requires patience, hard work, understanding and commitment to help it be a success. We pledge to do our part by helping you in every way possible, before, during and after the surgery.

If you have any more questions regarding kidney transplants at Banner Good Samaritan Transplant Services, please contact us at (602) 839-7000 or toll-free at 1 (800) 554-1923; by fax at (602) 839-7050; or by e-mail.