Kidney Transplant Care
For people with advanced kidney failure (ESRD — when the kidneys can no longer function on their own), a kidney transplant can offer a chance at a fuller, more flexible life. It’s a big decision, and the road to a transplant takes preparation. Our team helps you understand whether transplant is right for you, coordinates your referral to a transplant center, and continues to support your care before and after surgery — so you’re never navigating it alone.
A kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney failure in which a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is placed into your body to take over the filtering work your own kidneys can no longer do. It is an excellent option for many people, but it is important to understand that a transplant is a treatment, not a cure. Caring for a transplanted kidney is a lifelong commitment that includes daily medicine and regular medical visits.
Getting a transplant starts with an evaluation at a transplant center. This testing can take several visits over weeks to months, as the transplant team learns about your overall health, your support system, and your insurance coverage. Tests may include blood work for blood type and tissue (HLA) matching, an antibody screen, infection screening, heart testing such as an EKG or echocardiogram, age-appropriate cancer screenings, and dental clearance. Many people can begin this process before they ever start dialysis. Because a transplant center can add you to the waiting list once your kidney function (eGFR) falls to 20 or below, even before dialysis, it helps to start the conversation earlier, often as function declines toward stage 4 kidney disease, so there is time to complete the work-up, look for a living donor, and address any health barriers.
If you have a living donor who is a good match, you may be able to schedule surgery without waiting on the deceased-donor list. After surgery, most people stay in the hospital several days, and for some people it takes a few days for the new kidney to begin working fully. From then on, the central job is protecting the new kidney: taking anti-rejection (immunosuppressant) medications exactly as prescribed, every day, for as long as the transplant works, and keeping up with regular lab work and clinic visits so your team can catch any problems early. Stopping these medicines can cause rejection, so they are never stopped on your own.
What we offer
What to expect
At your visit, a nephrologist or nurse practitioner will review your kidney health and talk with you about whether transplant evaluation is a good next step. If it is, we help initiate the process and refer you to a transplant center, then stay involved by coordinating records and results. If you already have a transplant, we focus on follow-up care, reviewing your lab work and medications and watching closely for any signs of trouble. We see patients in the office, in the hospital, and at dialysis centers, and telehealth is available when it suits you better. Our goal throughout is to keep you informed so you can make confident decisions about your care.
Why choose West Orange Nephrology?
Convenient care
we offer transplant follow-up and coordination close to home in Winter Garden, with visits available in our office, in hospitals, at dialysis centers, and by telehealth.
Caring approach
our mission is to empower you with clear information, so you understand each step of evaluation, surgery, and the lifelong care that protects your new kidney.
Collaborative care
we work hand in hand with your transplant center and a team of nephrologists and nurse practitioners, sharing records and results so your care stays connected.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start thinking about a transplant?
It often helps to start the conversation early, as kidney function declines and before dialysis is needed. A transplant center can add you to the waiting list once your kidney function (eGFR) falls to 20 or below, so beginning the work-up earlier leaves more time to complete the evaluation, join the list, and look for a living donor. Your nephrologist can help you decide when the timing is right.
What does the transplant evaluation involve?
Evaluation takes place at a transplant center and can span several visits over weeks to months. It includes blood tests for blood type and tissue (HLA) matching, an antibody and infection screen, heart testing, age-appropriate cancer screenings, and dental clearance. The transplant team also reviews your support system and insurance. We help initiate this work-up and coordinate with the center.
What is the difference between a living donor and the waiting list?
If a relative or friend is a healthy, well-matched donor, you may be able to schedule surgery in advance without waiting on the deceased-donor list, and living-donor kidneys often have better outcomes. Without a living donor, you join a waiting list, and wait times can range from months to years. The transplant center manages matching and listing.
What happens after a transplant?
Most people stay in the hospital several days, and for some the new kidney takes a few days to work fully. Afterward, you will take anti-rejection medications every day for as long as you have the transplant, and never stop them on your own, since that can cause rejection. You will also keep up with regular lab draws and visits. We provide this follow-up care close to home, working with your transplant team.
