How Kidney Transplant Works

Kidney Transplant

Forward-Thinking Transplant Care for Kidney (Renal) Disease

You count on your kidneys to filter excess fluid and waste out of your body. When they don’t work well, medication can help. But if your kidneys fail and stop working altogether (end-stage renal disease), you may need a kidney transplant.

Emory Healthcare’s kidney transplant program is among the 10 most active adult kidney transplant programs nationwide.

Our expert team includes:

  • Kidney doctors (nephrologists)
  • Transplant surgeons Infectious disease specialists
  • Specially trained nurses
  • Transplant coordinators
  • Nutritionists

We work closely together to deliver the highest level of care.

Get the Expert Kidney Transplant Care You Need

Emory Healthcare is right here, right when you need us. Our caring transplant team can help you with your kidney disease concerns. 
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Kidney Transplant

A Kidney Transplant Leader

Emory Healthcare is here for you if you or a loved one needs a kidney transplant. We pioneer new transplant therapies. And we offer the most attentive care before and after your procedure.

In 1966, Emory Healthcare performed Georgia’s first kidney transplant. Since then, our program:

  • Has completed more than 5,600 kidney transplants
  • Has performed more than 1,600 kidney transplants with live donors
  • Ranks in the top 10 programs for paired donor exchange
  • Routinely achieves higher than national one-year survival rates for kidney transplant

A kidney transplant can improve your well-being and be lifesaving. And we have some of the best outcomes and survival rates in the nation.

For additional information on kidney transplant survival rates, visit the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. This database provides statistics on kidney and other transplants.

How Kidney Transplant Works 
Your transplant journey starts with a visit with our kidney transplant team. As your transplant partner, we will be by your side from your first evaluation to your transplant and recovery. At Emory Healthcare, you may receive a kidney from a deceased or living donor.
Learn how kidney transplant works

Getting Approved for a Kidney Transplant 

You must meet specific requirements to be eligible for a kidney transplant. During your pre-transplant evaluation, our experts review your medical history and perform pre-kidney transplant tests. We use this information to determine if you’re a good candidate.

Pre-kidney transplant testing may include:

  • Abdominal imaging (CT, MRI or ultrasound)
  • Bladder or urinary tract tests
  • Blood tests
  • Chest X-ray
  • Electrocardiogram (a noninvasive test that records your heart’s electrical activity)
  • Echocardiogram

You may need more tests based on your age:

Patients 35 and older
Female patients over age 35 need a mammogram.
Patients 45 and older
Patients over age 45 with diabetes or other heart disease risk factors may need a stress test.
Patients 50 and older
Patients over age 50 need a colonoscopy.

Wait List for Kidney Transplant

If our experts decide a transplant is the best treatment for you, we will place you on the United Network for Organ Sharing waitlist. UNOS is the national agency that regulates organ transplantation. The UNOS wait list puts you in line to find a kidney from a deceased donor.

Learn more about the United Network for Organ Sharing
As there is a shortage of deceased donors, it may take many years to receive a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. We strongly encourage you to pursue live kidney donation.

Support for Kidney Transplant Patients 

It's normal to feel stress and anxiety at every stage of your transplant journey. You may need help managing these feelings. Talk with your doctor or contact the Georgia Transplant Foundation's Mentor Project. This program will connect you with someone who is living with a transplant. 

Many patients travel to Emory Healthcare for kidney transplants. We offer the Mason Guest House as a low-cost housing option for transplant patients.

 

Research Highlights

Emory researchers have made significant strides in the field of transplantation. Emory performed Georgia’s first kidney transplant and its first kidney-pancreas transplant. The kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant programs are at the forefront of research into true immune tolerance of transplanted organs.

Find an Emory Doctor

Emory Healthcare doctors provide specialized treatment and research the latest advancements.

View Emory Physician Profiles

Explore our Network

To expand your options, explore our network of providers throughout Atlanta and the surrounding counties.

 

Make an Appointment

Make an Appointment with Emory Transplant Services

Make an appointment online or call 404-778-7777 to schedule an appointment.

Refer a Patient

Refer a Patient to Emory Transplant

Our transplant team is dedicated to serving you and your patients. To make a referral or discuss a patient, please call 855-366-7989. After hours and on weekends, please call 404-778-5000.

Become a Kidney Donor
If you would like to become a living kidney donor, the first step in the process is to register as a potential kidney donor. If you have submitted your lab tests and do not hear from the Emory Transplant Living Donor team within 2 weeks, please call us at 855-366-7989 or email livingdonor@emoryhealthcare.org
Register as a Kidney Donor
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Organ Transplant Services