Kidney Transplant at University of Colorado Hospital

Why Choose University of Colorado Hospital for Your Kidney Transplant?

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At University of Colorado Hospital, we began performing kidney transplants in the early 1960s. Our Kidney Transplant Program was reinvigorated in 1988 by Laurence Chan, M.D., Ph.D and Igal Kam, M.D. Throughout the years, we have made significant technological advancements that have greatly increased the probability for a normal life after transplant surgery.

• Overall patient survival rate three years after transplantation is 94 percent.
• In 1999, our team began performing laparoscopic donor surgeries resulting in a shorter hospital stay, less pain and faster recovery for living kidney donors.
• The average length of hospital stay (from date of transplant surgery to discharge) for a kidney transplant patient is 4.2 days. This is lower than the national average.
• More than 50 percent of all kidney transplant recipients at University of Colorado Hospital receive their organ from a living donor.
• University of Colorado Hospital has an entire floor at our hospital dedicated to transplant patients. All patients receive medical care by a team of experts who are specifically trained to address transplant patients’ special needs.

What is a Kidney Transplant?

There are two types of kidney transplants. A deceased-donor transplant uses the kidney of someone who has recently passed away. This is the most common type of kidney transplant.

Living-donor transplants are the second type. As its name indicates, the person who is donating his or her kidney is alive. It is usually a relative or close friend who donates a portion of his/her kidney to the person in need of the transplant.

A small number people who are brittle, type 1 diabetics may need a pancreas transplant in addition to their kidney transplant. This is a combined operation that is always done with a deceased donor.

Featured Doctors

	Alexander Wiseman, MD, is an associate professor and Medical Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation. His clinical interests include renal transplantation and islet cell transplantation.
	Laurence Chan, MD, is a professor and Director of Clinical Research and Development, with clinical interests in renal transplantation, chronic renal failure and hypertension.

Additional Kidney Transplant Resources