Kidney transplant

Our leadership has more than 30 years of transplant experience, and we provide a multidisciplinary team approach with individualized clinical programs designed to meet each child's needs. We work diligently to perfect the latest techniques, refine protocols and help transplant candidates prepare for surgery.

Our multidisciplinary team is well-trained in the recognition and management of the unique problems of young patients battling advanced kidney disease, and we work closely with the patient's referring physician to ensure continuity of care and a successful post-transplant recovery.

As an Approved Transplant Program by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), we provide customized clinical programs designed to meet each patient's needs.

Medical City Children's Hospital is also the only hospital in North Texas where a kidney recipient and donor can be treated in the same facility, which can be especially important for parents, family members and friends who wish to donate.

Receiving care through our facility ensures you have access to:

• Emphasis on preemptive transplant
• Specialization in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques for donors
• Living donors who are housed in the same facility with pediatric recipients
• Short appointment wait times with flexibility when needed
• Excellent patient outcomes
• Seamless transition to the adult specialists at Medical City once a child reaches 18 years old

Our specialists are experts in managing complex kidney disease in children. Medical City Children's Hospital nephrologists are partnered with the Medical City Transplant Institute team to offer a full spectrum of services, including kidney transplantation.

Patients undergo an extensive series of tests and evaluations to determine the appropriate treatment option. During the initial visit, the patient and their family meet with the team of specialists to discuss the patient's individual treatment plan.

The pre-transplant process typically includes:

• Chest X-ray
• Blood tests
• Cardiac evaluation — echocardiogram (EKG)
• Abdominal sonogram
• Social work evaluation
• Urology consultation
• Dental and eye exam
• Pap smear (for girls 16 years old and older)

Once approved, the patient’s name is placed on the national UNOS transplant waiting list.

Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance companies cover pediatric kidney transplant surgery if the patient meets certain criteria. Our financial coordinators and social workers are available to help you through each step of the process.

Each potential candidate is evaluated on an individual basis and undergoes personalized comprehensive testing. Children considered for a kidney transplant must receive clearance from all appropriate medical consultants and meet the following criteria:

• Between two and 17 years old
• Severe chronic kidney disease — early referrals may prevent the need for dialysis
• Up-to-date required immunizations

Candidates considering living kidney donation can visit this page to learn more information and submit an application. Volunteering to be a living donor is a generous act and a major decision. As such, no one should feel pressured into serving as a living donor, and should carefully consider this decision.

The potential donor undergoes a series of blood tests to determine if the blood type and tissue type are compatible with the recipient. The transplant team conducts additional evaluations and reviews test results for discussion and approval.

The transplant institute is located in Building C of Medical City Children's Hospital. We are located on the seventh floor (Building C, Suite 240).