Our multidisciplinary team of UofL Physicians is an integral part of the Kidney Transplant Program at UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center, which provides the highest quality of care for patients in need of kidney transplantation. The first kidney transplant in Western Kentucky was performed at UofL Health – Jewish Hospital in 1964. Since that time, we have performed more than 3,000 kidney transplants. The kidney program performs living kidney donations via a minimally invasive, laparoscopic approach. Our dedicated team of surgeons, nephrologists, nurse coordinators and social workers works closely with the patient from pre-transplant evaluations through post-transplant care.
In addition, UofL Physicians includes dedicated pediatric nephrologists who operate a first-rate kidney transplant program at Norton Children’s Hospital.
Conditions & Treatments
What is kidney failure?
The two most frequent causes of kidney failure are high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes. When kidneys fail, the result is an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) a permanent condition in which normal kidney function will not return. Over 26 million American adults suffer from chronic kidney (renal) disease which could advance to ESRD.
Kidney failure linked to Type 1 Diabetes most often results in kidney transplantation and occasionally pancreas transplantation if the pancreas is no longer efficiently managing hormone levels. Patients undergoing both surgeries simultaneously have the best chance at a normal quality of life without dialysis or insulin injections.
When a kidney has permanently lost the ability to clean the blood of toxins, the process is done by artificial means called dialysis. The two types of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
- Hemodialysis: blood is passed through an artificial kidney machine to clean it.
- Peritoneal dialysis: a filtration process similar to hemodialysis, but the blood is cleaned inside your body rather than in a machine, via a tube inserted into your abdomen.
Patients may stay on dialysis until a kidney becomes available for transplantation. Two transplant options patients can consider are deceased or living donor transplants.
The Gift of Life
In addition to transplantation, UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center is actively involved with efforts to increase awareness of the need for organ donation in collaboration with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates. Unfortunately, due to the lack of donated organs, many people never receive life-saving transplants. Our transplant team encourages live donation, when appropriate.
Although you may never need a transplant, you can pass on the gift of life by registering to become an organ donor today. Register today!