Kidney Transplant

Expert, Personalized Kidney Transplant Care 

At Lahey Clinic, you can receive a new kidney with the most experienced kidney transplant team in New England. In fact, Lahey is one of the nation’s leading medical center kidney transplant programs. The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients reports the collaborative approach our physicians use has produced some of the best results for kidney recipients in the U.S. 

Here, we coordinate your care with our extensive team of experts. And we group your appointments to save you time. You always receive a personalized treatment plan with the best care options for you. 

Discuss Your Options

If you’re currently on dialysis, or approaching dialysis, it’s important to ask your nephrologist (kidney specialist) to set up an appointment with us. Together, we can explore the possibility of a kidney transplant. 

Having a functioning kidney is a better long-term solution for end-stage renal disease than dialysis. It’s much more cost-effective. However, you will need to take medication for the rest of your life.

The medicines keep your body from rejecting your new kidney. Our team explains the medicines to you and teaches you how to take them correctly. 

Donor Kidney Sources 

You may have several options for kidney transplant surgery, including: 

Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation

This type of kidney transplant comes from an organ donor after their death. 

If you opt for a deceased donor kidney, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) will add your name to the waiting list. We notify you when a donor kidney that’s a good match for you becomes available. You may need dialysis while you wait for a kidney.

Living Donor Kidney Transplantation

A living donor transplant may come from a blood relative, other family member or someone you don’t know. A donor can live well with a single healthy kidney. 

With this option, you and your kidney donor have surgery on the same day. Living donor kidneys may start working sooner than those from a deceased donor. They may also last longer. 

Become a Living Donor

Paired Exchange Programs For Incompatible Donor-Recipient Pairs

If someone is willing to provide a living kidney donation to you but their kidney is not compatible, we may be able to arrange a kidney exchange with another pair of people in the same situation. This helps you and another person in need of a new kidney get a new organ. The living donor team will guide you through this process. 

When You Need a New Kidney

It’s common to have questions about getting a new kidney. Learn about the evaluation process to determine if you’re a good candidate and what to expect.