Kidney Transplantation

A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a non-functioning kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney from a donor. Some patients receive a transplant directly without undergoing dialysis, while others are transplanted after several years of dialysis or following a previous graft rejection.

Transplantation can be considered for any patient with chronic kidney disease—or those at risk—who request it and have no contraindications. Before being placed on the waiting list, patients must undergo a comprehensive pre-transplant evaluation. Registration on the list is then validated by the French Organ Transplant Authority (Établissement français des Greffes).

Benefits of a kidney transplant include:

• Improved kidney function
• Increased life expectancy
• Enhanced quality of life

However, waiting for a compatible donor organ can be challenging, and there is always a risk of organ rejection. Transplant recipients require regular medical follow-up and must take daily anti-rejection medications, which may sometimes have side effects.

Thanks to transplantation, chronic kidney failure is no longer a fatal condition.