In kidney transplantation, a healthy, donated kidney is surgically implanted in a person's abdomen near the hipbone. In some cases, the non-working kidneys may be removed to control infection or high blood pressure. According to the National Kidney Foundation, only about 50 percent of dialysis patients meet the physical requirements for a transplant, or choose this treatment option. There is a limited supply of kidneys available due to lack of donors. A kidney transplant is the closest a patient can get to having healthy kidneys.
Most people feel as well as they did before their kidneys failed.
However, a transplant requires a highly involved surgical procedure. Transplantation can be a long-term solution, unless the new kidney develops disease. As long as the new kidney remains healthy, no dialysis is required. Copyright 1995-2001 Baxter Healthcare Corporation. All rights reserved.