Transplant Surgery

• Organ Transplants: Antirejection Medicines

  People who have had an organ transplant need antirejection medicines. This is because the immune system will try to destroy the new organ. These medicines are also called immunosuppressants. They weaken your immune system and decrease your body's...

• Kidney Transplant: Before Your Surgery

  Learn what happens during a kidney transplant and how to prepare.

• Kidney Transplant: Returning Home

  Learn how to care for yourself after a kidney transplant.

• Planning to Be an Organ Donor

  Introduction Donating one or more of your organs after your death can help save another person's life. Over 100,000 people in the United States are now waiting for the gift of an organ to become available for an organ transplant. Most people can be organ donors. If you are interested in donating organs or...

• Living Organ Donation

  Introduction More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ to become available for a transplant that can save their lives. Many organ donors are living donors. How can you be a living organ donor? Most people can be organ donors. Many people choose to donate an organ upon their...

• Kidney Transplant

  Discusses surgery to replace a diseased kidney with a healthy one. Explains what a living donor is. Covers what to expect after surgery. Looks at risks. Links to picture of kidney transplant. Links to more in-depth info on organ transplant.

• Lung Transplant for Cystic Fibrosis

  Lung transplant is an option for a few people who have severe lung problems that are caused by cystic fibrosis. The procedure removes the diseased lungs and replaces them with healthy lungs from a recently deceased donor. Sometimes a procedure called a living-donor lobar lung transplant is performed while a person is...

• Heart Transplant

  A heart transplant is a procedure in which a surgeon removes a diseased heart and replaces it with a donor heart. During a heart transplant, a mechanical pump circulates blood through the body while the surgeon removes the diseased heart and replaces it with a healthy heart from a recently deceased donor. The surgeon...

• Donating a Kidney

  Kidney transplantation is the best way known to save a person's life after he or she develops kidney failure. In the past, kidneys were only taken from living close relatives or from people who had recently died. Transplants from living donors have a better chance of success than those from deceased donors. Also...

• Organ Transplant

  Answers questions about organ transplants. Covers becoming an organ donor and getting on a waiting list. Covers tests used to see if you'd be a good candidate. Looks at medicines that you might take after a transplant. Offers tips for staying healthy.