Types of Kidney Transplants

The Henry Ford team is among the select few in Michigan that has the needed level of expertise to not only perform transplants of the kidney, but also of the pancreas. Many patients need both organs replaced.

We use minimally invasive techniques for these procedures whenever possible. Our team will evaluate your health to help determine the best transplant option for you.

Find out if you need a kidney transplant.

Kidney transplants at Henry Ford

Our kidney transplants include:

• Deceased donor kidney transplants: Your new kidney comes from a deceased donor.
• Living donor kidney transplants: Your new kidney comes from a living donor who may or may not be someone you know. You may be able to receive a kidney transplant more quickly through our living donor kidney transplant program.
• Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant: When you have diabetes, your pancreas does not produce enough insulin. As your blood sugar levels rise, your kidneys have to work harder and can eventually start to fail. A dual kidney-pancreas transplant can relieve the need for insulin treatments and dialysis. Your donor kidney and pancreas come from one deceased donor, lowering your risk of organ rejection.
• Pancreas after kidney transplant: If your pancreas starts to fail months or years after your kidney transplant, our doctors can perform a standard pancreas transplant.

Minimally invasive kidney transplants

Our kidney transplant team holds specialized expertise in minimally invasive techniques. We are the first and only program in Michigan offering robotic-assisted kidney transplant surgery. We also are leaders in using laparoscopic procedures for living kidney donors.

Benefits of minimally invasive transplants include:

• Smaller incisions
• Less scarring
• Reduced pain
• Lower risk of infection
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities