What happens before kidney transplant surgery?

During the waiting period before transplantation, patients on the wait list must carry a cell phone so that hospital personnel can immediately reach them when a donor organ becomes available. When a deceased donor organ becomes available, the hospital must respond to the offer very quickly; if a patient is unavailable or unable to have the transplant (due to infection, for instance), then the organ may be offered to the next person on the wait list. A transportation plan should be arranged so that when a donor organ becomes available, the patient has a way to quickly and easily travel to the hospital.

While waiting for surgery, patients should learn what to expect during their recovery, and about the medications they will need to take after surgery.