Kidney transplantation, often spelled as “kidney transplantation,” is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney is removed from a living or deceased donor and placed into a recipient who has kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. This is done to replace the recipient’s nonfunctioning or poorly functioning kidneys with a healthy kidney, allowing them to regain normal kidney function.

Kidney transplantation is typically considered when other forms of treatment, such as dialysis, are no longer sufficient to maintain the recipient’s health and well-being. There are two primary types of kidney transplantation:

Living Donor Transplant: In this type of transplant, a healthy kidney is donated by a living person, often a family member or a close friend. Living donor transplants are preferred because they generally have better outcomes and shorter waiting times compared to deceased donor transplants.
Deceased Donor Transplant: In this case, a kidney is obtained from a person who has died and has chosen to be an organ donor. These kidneys are usually acquired from individuals who have suffered brain death while on life support.
The goal of kidney transplantation is to improve the recipient’s quality of life, eliminate the need for regular dialysis, and potentially extend their life expectancy.

After a successful transplant, recipients need to take medications to prevent their immune system from rejecting the donated kidney. Kidney transplantation is a complex medical procedure that requires careful matching of donors and recipients to minimize the risk of rejection and ensure the best possible outcomes for the recipient.