The kidneys serve as the bloodstream’s filter, removing unneeded materials that then leave the body in the form of urine. Although the human body has two kidneys, a person can live a normal and active life with just one kidney.

Kidney failure can occur due to an acute health event or chronic conditions. Many people without kidney function can survive for many years on dialysis. Dialysis is a method in which a machine is used to remove the waste in the blood when the kidneys are not working. But because long-term dialysis is associated with a shorter life span and other health issues, transplantation is a better option for most.

At the Yale-New Haven Transplantation Center, a kidney for transplantation can come from:

• Cadaver donors – The donor kidney is obtained from a person who has died and whose organs are being donated for transplantation.

• Living donors – A family member (such as a parent, sibling or child) or an unrelated donor (such as a spouse) who volunteers to donate one of their kidneys for transplantation

Live Donor Program

Because a kidney from a relative is a better match to your body, there is less chance of rejection and potentially a need for less anti-rejection medication. Living donor kidneys can also last longer, in many cases for 25 years or more. The Yale-New Haven Transplantation Center specializes in matching potential donors. Our surgeons perform laproscopic donor surgery to minimize patient discomfort and speed recovery.

The physicians, nurses and staff affiliated with the kidney transplantation program are experts in transplantation techniques, anti-rejection (immunosuppressant) drugs, post-transplant care and the management of related health conditions of patients with kidney disease.

Pancreas Program

Over the past decade, improved anti-rejection (immunosuppressant) drugs have helped make pancreas transplantation a successful option for many people.

The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach that secretes enzymes to aid in the digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream, which play an important role in metabolizing sugar.

In many cases, pancreas transplants are performed for people with diabetes. A new pancreas provides a way to slow the progression of complications from kidney failure, a common result of diabetes or can help patients who have extreme difficulty with glycemic control.

Many patients who have a pancreas transplant also will have a kidney transplant at the same time, or at another time either before or after it. Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation can be performed from a cadaver donor with excellent outcomes at the Yale-New Haven Transplantation Center.

The physicians, nurses and staff affiliated with our pancreas transplantation program are experts in transplantation techniques, anti-rejection (immunosuppressant) drugs, post-transplant care, and the related health condition of patients with pancreatic disease.