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The Renal and Pancreas Transplant Program at Medical City has been certified as an approved transplant program by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) since 1998, followed by Medicare approval in 1999. Our team of specialists performed the first kidney transplant at Medical City in 1999. The first heart-kidney transplant at this hospital was performed in 2001. Our specialists continue to perfect the latest surgical techniques, refine protocols and help transplant candidates prepare for lifesaving surgery.
Medical City performs several types of transplants including kidney, heart, pancreas and pediatric kidney. All patients receive the individual attention they deserve thanks to our small coordinator-to-patient ratio. We work closely with each patient’s referring physician, so they are able to play an integral role in the transplant process.
Who is eligible for a kidney transplant?
Patients with a condition that leads to irreversible renal failure may be referred for transplant evaluation. A patient does not need to be on dialysis to qualify for a kidney transplant. Our Transplant Center is pleased to provide patient education early in the course of their disease.
Kidney Transplant Criteria
- Stage 4 (GFR<20 ml/mn) or chronic renal failure
- Absence of systemic illness or medical condition that significantly decreases estimated short or long-term survival. Examples of these types of conditions are disseminated malignancy or severe cardiovascular disease
- Ability to comply with a complicated long-term medical treatment regimen. Other important factors include a strong social/family support system and freedom from active drug or alcohol abuse
- An adequate financial plan to obtain the required immunosuppressive medications in the long-term after transplant
- Morbid obesity (BMI>40) is a contraindication for transplant
If there is an uncertainty regarding a patient’s candidacy for transplant, please contact us for additional information.
How do I apply to become a Medical City kidney transplant patient?
Candidates considering a kidney transplant will first complete a Medical City transplant application. Most patients are referred to our program by a nephrologist or dialysis center but many candidates choose to initiate the transplant process by either downloading the transplant application or by calling 972-566-7199 or 1-800-348-4318. The candidate’s insurance will be verified, and then our transplant team will contact you to begin the clinical work-up process.
Donation Procedures Performed
The renal transplant waiting list continues to grow larger than the number of kidneys available from deceased donors. This shortage, along with the many surgical advances, has increased the level of interest in living donations. Volunteering to be a living donor is a generous act and is a major decision, and no one should feel pressured into becoming a living donor.
Our living donor advocate works directly with a potential donor and acts as the donor’s representative. The donor advocate will ensure that any potential concerns are communicated and explored prior to donation.
Medical City Transplant participates in The Alliance for Paired Donation program and the national UNOS Kidney Paired Donation program. These programs allow a patient with a non-compatible donor to increase their chances of finding a compatible donor. The exchange program also allows donors to remain at Medical City during the donation process.
In a paired exchange, an incompatible donor and recipient pair— such as a husband and wife or mother and daughter who don’t have compatible blood types— are matched with another pair for a “swap.” Each recipient will receive a kidney from the other person’s intended donor.
Anna’s Story: Paired Donation Patient
Ana Arellano was on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, desperately waiting for a match. The chance of a donor seemed unlikely, until Ana and her husband Carlos Certucha learned about the paired donor exchange at Medical City Hospital in 2012. A week after Carlos donated his kidney to a stranger; Ana received her kidney— giving her a more active life and the desire to encourage other patients to participate in this program. Read Anna’s story.
When someone’s quality of life is greatly diminished by the effects of diabetes, and current medical therapies are not working, a pancreas transplant can be an effective treatment option. Currently, Medical city’s Transplant Program provides three types of pancreas transplant procedures:
- Pancreas only transplant
- Simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation
- Pancreas transplantation after kidney transplant
How does someone qualify to be a pancreas transplant candidate?
Each potential candidate is evaluated on an individual basis, and undergoes an extensive series of tests to determine if transplantation is the most appropriate treatment option. Candidates considered for a pancreas transplant must meet the following criteria:
- Under the age of 50
- Type I Diabetes
- Experiencing recurrent problems with hypo or hyperglycemia