Lehigh Valley Hospital: Kidney Transplants And Care

Lehigh Valley Hospital's Institute for Surgical Excellence has offered kidney transplants as part of its organ transplantation surgery since 1991. The hospital has a 94% success rate for kidney transplants, with patients receiving kidneys faster than other programs in the region. The hospital's multidisciplinary team of specialist surgeons provides leading-edge medical and surgical treatments for rare and routine disorders.

Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence

The institute offers leading-edge medical and surgical treatments for a variety of disorders, both rare and routine. Patients can benefit from obtaining a second opinion from the skilled treatment team, which includes transplant specialists with experience in performing complex transplant surgeries. The institute also has a living kidney donor program, where friends and family can donate a kidney with less pain and a shortened recovery time due to laparoscopic techniques.

The institute provides comprehensive care, guiding patients through the evaluation process and creating a plan suited to their physical, psychological, and financial situation. The team gets to know patients on a personal level and offers a range of education and support resources to meet their needs before and after surgery. Overall, the Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence offers a high level of care and expertise in the field of organ transplantation.

94% kidney transplant success rate

The Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence has a 94% success rate for kidney transplants, with more than 30 years of transplant experience. The institute is the region's only transplant centre and offers comprehensive kidney and pancreas transplant services. Patients receive kidneys faster than at other programs in the region.

The success rate for kidney transplants varies depending on several factors. According to the 2020 OPTN/SRTR report, the 5-year survival rate for transplanted kidneys is 81.6% in people over 65 and 90.9% in people aged 35 to 49. The report also highlights that the 5-year survival rate is higher for people receiving kidneys from living donors (LDKT) than from deceased donors (DDKT). The 5-year survival rate for LDKT recipients over 65 is 83.9%, while for DDKT recipients in the same age group, it is 74.3%.

The age of the donor and recipient can impact the success rate. A 2016 study found that as the recipient's age increases, the predicted survival time also increases. Younger people have more active immune systems, which can lead to a higher rate of organ rejection. Donor age is also a factor, with increasing donor age associated with a higher chance of kidney rejection.

Additionally, race is a factor in kidney transplant success rates. According to the OPTN/SRTR 2020 report, Asian recipients had the highest survival rate, while Black recipients had the lowest.

While most kidney transplants are successful, it's important to remember that individual factors can influence the outcome. Factors such as medical history, age, race, and the availability of a suitable donor can all play a role in determining the success rate for a specific individual.

Faster kidney transplants

The Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence offers the region's only transplant program for kidney, pancreas, and liver transplantation. The institute has performed more than 1,300 transplants since its program started in 1991, with a 94% success rate for kidney transplants. Their wait times are significantly lower than other centers, and patients receive kidneys faster than at other programs in the region.

The institute's surgeons are board-certified in general surgery and have extensive experience performing complex transplant surgeries. They use steroid-free immunosuppression and can use donor kidneys that other centers cannot, allowing them to offer lifesaving transplants to more people in less time. Their transplant team provides comprehensive care and support to patients before, during, and after surgery. This includes helping patients find suitable living kidney donors and offering a range of educational and support resources.

To be considered for a kidney transplant, patients must first be evaluated for their suitability as a transplant candidate. This evaluation includes confirming a diagnosis, exploring treatment options, and ensuring the patient is healthy enough for the transplant procedure. Basic criteria for kidney transplant candidates include having end-stage renal disease, being on dialysis, or having kidneys functioning at less than 20% capacity. Other health problems that could affect the success of the transplant are also considered.

Once a patient is approved for a kidney transplant, they are placed on the transplant waiting list. Wait times can vary depending on factors such as medical urgency, blood type, and organ availability. The institute's wait times are almost half that of centers in New Jersey and southern New York, ensuring that patients receive their transplants faster.

Kidney donor program

Lehigh Valley Health Network's Kidney Donor Program

Lehigh Valley Health Network's Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence offers a kidney donor program for living donors. The program is part of the region's only transplant program for kidney, pancreas, and liver transplantation. With over 30 years of experience, the institute has successfully performed more than 1,300 transplants, including kidney transplants with a 94% success rate.

The kidney donor program at Lehigh Valley Health Network offers a comprehensive range of services for potential donors. Friends and family members who wish to donate a kidney can benefit from laparoscopic techniques, which reduce pain and speed up recovery time. The program also provides education and support resources to meet donors' physical and emotional needs before and after surgery.

The institute's transplant team is dedicated to providing the highest level of customized care. They guide potential donors and recipients through the entire transplant process, including helping recipients find suitable living kidney donors within their families, neighbourhoods, or networks. The team also assists in obtaining single-case agreements for all insurance types, even if they are out of network.

To be considered as a living kidney donor, interested individuals can fill out a form on the Lehigh Valley Health Network's website. After submitting the form, the Transplant Office will review the screening and get in touch. The institute's approach to care brings together accomplished specialists with diverse areas of expertise, ensuring the highest quality of surgical care.

Transplant eligibility

Lehigh Valley Health Network's Institute for Surgical Excellence has over 30 years of transplant experience and a 94% success rate for kidney transplants. The institute offers comprehensive kidney and pancreas transplant services from transplant specialists.

To be eligible for a kidney transplant, patients must meet certain basic criteria. These criteria are different depending on the type of organ(s) needed. All patients must be fully evaluated by the transplant team to determine if transplantation is the best treatment option.

• The patient must have chronic irreversible kidney disease that has not responded to other medical or surgical treatments.
• The patient is either on dialysis or may require dialysis in the near future.
• The patient must qualify for and be able to tolerate major surgery.
• The patient must have a care partner—a spouse, child, or close friend who can help take care of their kidney and the patient's medications, appointments, and be a first line of contact.
• The patient and their family must be able to understand the risks and benefits of transplantation, including the long-term need for close medical follow-up and lifelong need for anti-rejection therapy.
• The patient and their family must be able to accept the financial and other responsibilities that are part of the long-term care they will need after transplantation.
• The patient must be healthy enough for a transplant and not have other health problems that could affect the success of a kidney transplant.

Kidneys for transplantation can come from living donors or deceased donors. A living donor must be over 18, healthy, and pass a medical and psychosocial evaluation. Living donor kidney transplants are more successful and have a lower rate of rejection, but living donors are harder to find.

Frequently asked questions