What happens to my new kidney after it has been transplanted into my body?
The first thing that happens is that your new kidney will turn a beautiful pink colour as it becomes flushed through with your blood, then, gradually its cells will recover as they soak up oxygen from this new circulation.
As your new kidney comes from a deceased donor (through UK Transplant), it will have been hibernating in preservative fluid whilst travelling from the donor’s hospital to yours. Kidneys aren’t built to withstand this sort of treatment and it can take several days before such a kidney recovers and begins to work and produce urine. Thereafter, its function will gradually improve.
