Throughout your transplant journey, you'll be in close contact with your Virtua nurse coordinator.
During your wait on the transplant list, you'll undergo regular checkups, including blood tests. You should notify your coordinator of any major changes, including hospitalizations, medication changes and changes in insurance coverage.
If you have a living donor, the transplant team will work with you and your donor to schedule the surgery.
If you're on the wait list, the nurse coordinator will call you when a donor kidney becomes available. It's important that you remain flexible and available to receive phone calls at all times.
What to Expect with Your Kidney Transplant Surgery
During your surgery, the new kidney is implanted through an incision in the lower abdomen. Your new kidney is attached to your bladder and blood vessels. In many cases, your existing kidneys are left in place. The surgery takes several hours to complete.
You'll remain in the hospital for an average of four to five days as you recover from surgery and as your new kidney reaches full function. You will begin receiving medication to help your body accept your new organ. You will need to take this medication for the lifetime of your transplanted organ.
What to Expect with Your Pancreas Transplant Surgery
During your surgery, the surgeon makes an incision down the center of your abdomen. Your new pancreas is connected to your blood vessels and your own small intestine or bladder. Your existing pancreas remains in place.
The operation lasts three to six hours, depending on whether you are receiving a new kidney at the same time. You will remain in the hospital for about a week as you recover. You will receive medication to help your body accept the new organ.
