Explanation

A kidney transplant is removing a kidney that is not working properly and replacing it with a new, healthy one from a donor. It is a long-lasting treatment, and means you don't need dialysis any more.

Although everyone's kidneys work in the same way, there are differences in the antigens on the outside of the kidney cells. So, if the antigens on a new kidney from a donor are completely different from those on your own kidneys, then your immune system might mistake your new kidney for an invader and attack it! Don't worry though - doctor will look for kidneys from a donor whose antigens match your antigens. The size and age of the donor is also important, as you need a kidney that is your size. When you need a kidney transplant, you go onto a waiting list while doctors try to find a kidney that is a good match for you.

Kidneys have to be transplanted quickly so that they will still work. If the donor isn't in the same hospital as you, your new kidney will be sped to you by motorbike, car, helicopter or even aeroplane! While you wait, you'll have some tests to make sure you're ready for surgery - like a blood test, a chest x-ray and an ECG. If everything is OK you'll be given a general anaesthetic.

The surgeon will then disconnect all the plumbing and blood vessels from your old kidney and remove it. The new kidney will be inserted, and all the pipes and blood vessels will be reconnected. A kidney transplant is a big operation, and you'll have to stay in hospital for a while afterwards to make sure everything went OK.

Unless the donor is your twin, finding an exact match is very unlikely. This means that your new kidney will still have some foreign antigens, so your immune system might still attack it. This is called transplant rejection. To stop this from happening, your doctor will give you medicines called immunosuppressants. If the immunosuppressants can't stop the transplant rejection, you may need a bone marrow transplant.