Kidney Transplant Surgery

For adults with kidney failure, a transplant can restore much of the work the kidneys once did and can offer better long-term outcomes than remaining on dialysis. At Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai, our nephrologists and transplant surgeons work together to support adults from assessment through transplantation and long-term follow-up.

We also provide paediatric nephrology for children with kidney disease. Our kidney transplant programme is for adults, so if a child needs a transplant, our paediatric nephrology team will guide the family to an appropriate paediatric transplant centre and continue to support their kidney care.

We encourage early referral for transplant assessment. A transplant performed before dialysis becomes necessary, known as a pre-emptive transplant, is associated with better outcomes and allows the kidney team more time to explore the available options.

What is kidney transplant surgery?

Kidney transplant surgery gives a person a healthy kidney when their own kidneys have failed, known as end-stage kidney disease. It is one of the main treatments for kidney failure, alongside dialysis. For most people who are suitable, a working transplant means they no longer need regular dialysis.

The kidney can come from a living donor, usually a relative, or a deceased donor. A transplant takes over the work your kidneys can no longer do, but does not cure the condition that caused kidney failure, so ongoing follow-up remains important.

Early referral for transplant assessment is encouraged, as the process can take time and may allow transplantation before dialysis becomes necessary.

• A transplant before dialysis can offer the best outcomes. A pre-emptive transplant, particularly from a living donor, is associated with better outcomes than transplantation after spending time on dialysis.
• Assessment takes time. Assessing a potential living donor or preparing to join the national waiting list can take weeks or months. Starting early helps keep the option of a pre-emptive transplant open.
• A living donor transplant can often be planned sooner. If a suitable relative comes forward, their assessment and the transplant can be planned in advance around your health and treatment needs.
• Waiting for a deceased donor kidney can take time. The wait depends on factors such as your blood group, antibody levels and finding a suitable match. Early referral gives you and your team more time to plan your care.

Who is referred for a kidney transplant?

Your kidney team may talk to you about a transplant if:

• Your kidneys have failed or are approaching failure
• You are already on dialysis or are likely to need it soon
• You are well enough for major surgery
• You can take daily anti-rejection medicines afterwards
• A relative is considering donating a kidney to you

Not everyone with kidney failure will be suitable for a transplant. Your kidney specialist will refer you to the transplant team, who assess whether the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for you. Some conditions, such as untreated cancer, an uncontrolled infection or significant untreated heart or lung disease, may make transplantation unsafe. Every case is assessed individually, and your team will explain the options available to you.

What to expect

A transplant assessment checks whether surgery is safe and likely to benefit you. This includes tests of your heart, lungs and general health, as well as blood tests to establish your blood group and tissue type. A crossmatch test checks how your immune system may respond to a specific donor kidney. If a transplant is suitable, a kidney may come from a living donor, usually a relative, following their own assessment. Otherwise, you will be placed on the UAE national waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor, allocated according to national criteria.

During surgery, the new kidney is usually placed in the lower abdomen and connected to your blood vessels and bladder, while your own kidneys normally remain in place. Most people stay in hospital for around five to seven days. Afterwards, you will take daily anti-rejection medicines for as long as the transplant is working, alongside medicines to prevent infection. Regular blood tests and frequent follow-up appointments allow your team to monitor your recovery and adjust your medicines as needed.

Kidney transplant surgery at Mediclinic

We run a kidney transplant centre at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai, caring for adults with kidney failure. Our nephrologists and transplant surgeons work as one team, guiding you through assessment and surgery and providing lifelong follow-up afterwards, including the management of anti-rejection medicines. Children with kidney disease are cared for through our paediatric nephrology service, which works with a paediatric transplant centre when a transplant is needed.

Mediclinic City Hospital performed Dubai's first deceased-donor kidney transplant in June 2016. The programme is accredited by the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT), the reference centre for organ donation and transplantation across the GCC, and Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), and is licensed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).

Living donation follows strict rules designed to protect the donor, and every potential donor is assessed as carefully as the recipient. Buying or selling a kidney, or pressuring anyone to donate, is against the law. Kidneys from deceased donors are matched and allocated through the UAE's national transplant programme, Hayat, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).

Signs of kidney failure

Kidney failure often causes few or no symptoms until it is advanced. When symptoms do appear, they can include swelling in the legs or around the eyes, passing less urine, persistent tiredness, breathlessness, poor appetite, itching and difficulty sleeping.Your kidney doctor (nephrologist) will monitor your kidney function over time and manage these symptoms. If a transplant may be suitable, they will refer you to the transplant team for assessment, ideally before symptoms become severe.