What to expect in the lead up to having a kidney transplant

You will have been under the care of your local consultant in renal medicine and the time has come to consider the option for kidney transplantation. How will this choice be made? What will happen if the decision is taken to go ahead?

The choice to undergo kidney transplantation is based on two main issues:

• First, you must be physical fit to undergo an operation under general anaesthetic.
• Second, you must be willing to understand and accept the consequences and risks of having a kidney transplant.