During the operation, the transplanted kidney is placed on the right or left side of the lower abdomen, just above the groin. The kidney's artery is attached to a large artery in the lower abdomen that supplies blood to the leg; its vein is attached to a large vein that returns blood from the leg. The ureter is connected to the bladder. Under suitable conditions, the operation takes an average of two to four hours.
As with any operation, kidney transplantation carries risks. However, the source states that technological and technical advances have reduced these risks, with serious complications occurring in approximately 1–2% of cases.
The recipient's own kidneys are generally left in place unless there is a medical reason to remove them. Removal may be necessary in the following circumstances:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure caused by renal artery stenosis
- Persistent, treatment-resistant kidney infection or abscess
- Severe vesicoureteral reflux (backward flow of urine from the bladder toward the kidneys)
- Large kidney cysts (polycystic kidney disease)
Such surgery is planned by the transplant team and may be performed before or at the same time as transplantation. If recovery is uncomplicated, the average hospital stay after the operation is about one week, although it may be longer depending on the patient's progress.