Once a donor organ has been identified, the transplant coordinator will give you the following instructions:
- You will be told not to eat or drink anything from that point on.
- You should call family or friends to make sure you have a support system in place for after the transplant.
- You should report to the main hospital admitting office. Your vital signs will be taken on admission.
- You will be examined by a doctor. An IV will be started and you will be prepared for surgery.
- After all preparations are made, your will be taken to the operating room for your transplant.
Determining the donor organ is healthy
A final crossmatch will be fun to determine your compatibility with the donor organ. Your PRA (Percent Reactive Antibody) will be measured, so it is important to have one drawn at least once a month so the transplant surgery can proceed smoothly.
How long will I be in surgery?
Kidney transplant surgery usually takes three to four hours. If you are having a combined kidney/pancreas transplant, surgery can take up to five to six hours.
Where will my friends and family wait? Can I see them afterward?
During the surgery, we ask that family and friends wait on the 2nd floor of the Concentrated Care Center Building (CCC) in the surgical waiting area. See a map of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The family will be given periodic updates. We encourage the family to call the Transplant Office with any questions regarding the procedure at: 202-444-3700
What should I expect after surgery?
You will be transferred to our surgical critical care unit, where a staff nurse, will care for you and help you through the healing process.
