University Hospitals Transplant Team Improves Success Post-Transplant

Experts at University Hospitals Transplant Institute's Kidney Transplant Program in Cleveland, Ohio continually search for ways to improve the success of kidney transplant after the surgery is completed.

Post-Transplant Care at UH

A kidney transplant is a life-long process. Patients must continue to see their transplant team, including the surgeons, physicians, transplant coordinator, and multidisciplinary team members frequently to make sure their body is not rejecting the kidney. While rejection is a normal bodily reaction to a foreign object, it is unacceptable when it comes to an organ transplant.

At the post-transplant visits, the specialized team will:

• Assess the patient’s vital signs and progress
• Examine surgical incisions for healing or infection
• Measure new kidney function
• Discuss potential medication issues
• Meet with both patient and family to make sure the care plan is working to meet their needs

During post-transplant, patients will receive medications to inhibit the immune system from rejecting the new kidney.

Individualizing Anti-Rejection Drugs

Patients are required to take anti-rejection (immunosuppressive) drugs for the rest of their lives. These drugs prevent the body from rejecting the newly transplanted kidney. The transplant physician tailors medications to meet the needs of each individual patient. In fact, usually a combination of anti-rejection medications is given.