Children’s Wisconsin has been improving the health of children with end-stage kidney disease for decades.

Children who undergo kidney transplants tend to have longer life spans and a better quality of life compared to other children who stay on dialysis. A kidney transplant can help a child feel more energetic and lead an active life.

Our goal at Children’s to restore your child to health and get him or her back to an active life and a normalized childhood as quickly and safely as possible. As a result, 100% of our kidney transplant patients return to school about a month post-surgery.

A Team Dedicated to Your Child

The Children’s kidney transplant team is with you and your family through every phase of the process, from evaluation to surgery to follow-up care. We want to assure your child is at their best. Your transplant coordinator will help guide you through each step.

Our experienced, dedicated specialists include:

• Pediatric nephrologist (kidney specialist)
• Transplant surgeon
• Transplant coordinator
• Clinical nurses
• Social worker
• Dietitian
• Pharmacist
• Child life specialist
• Child psychologist
• Financial counselor

Other pediatric specialists as required.

Improving the Transplant Process

As the first in the state to perform a pediatric combined kidney and heart transplant, our world class team is dedicated to improving outcomes for children in kidney failure. 

As a part of that initiative, we have built key partnerships. Our affiliation with Froedtert Hospital allows for the best care of the donor. The transplant teams at the two facilities make the living donor transplant process as easy and seamless as possible.

We work with three different donor types in the hope of finding a donor kidney for your child as quickly as possible. These three sources are:

• Relatives of your child
• Non-related living donor
• Deceased donor

In addition, Children’s works with researchers at the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin to perform transplants between donors and recipients with incompatible blood types. This can reduce the amount of time spent waiting for a kidney to become available. 

Research

One of the most important ways we work on behalf of children and their families is through our research initiatives in pediatric kidney transplant. This includes:

• Clinical trials
• Research 

Learn More About UNOS

The United Network for Organ Sharing manages the nation’s organ donation system.

At Children's Wisconsin, we know that you, your child, and the rest of your family will require support, expertise and guidance from start to finish. Our team-based approach focuses on partnering with your family to help you every step of the way.

Our Kidney Transplant Team

One of the advantages of partnering with Children's Wisconsin for your child's kidney transplant is the comprehensive team of specialists that we have assembled to address all aspects of your child's needs. Our exceptional, dedicated team includes a pediatric kidney specialist, transplant surgeon, social worker, nutritionist, pharmacist, child life specialist and a team of skilled clinical nurses. Throughout the process, you will have a transplant coordinator at your side.

Evaluation for Kidney Transplant

The first step of our pediatric kidney transplant process is to determine if the procedure is a good fit for your child. The Children's Wisconsin team will carefully review your child's health history and order diagnostic tests. These tests may include blood work, tissue typing, ECHO and/or EKG. We also arrange for your child and your family to meet with a child psychologist and a social worker to make sure everyone is prepared for what lies ahead.

Living Donors

Kidneys for your child can come from two sources: a living donor or an anonymous deceased organ donor. You may have a relative who would be a good candidate to make a living donation to your child. If so, the Children's team — and our adult care partners at  Froedtert Hospital — will evaluate to make sure they are a good fit.

Placement on the UNOS List

If there is no relative who is a good fit as a living donor, your child will be placed on a waiting list with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for a donor kidney. Your child is prioritized based on medical urgency and the wait for a new kidney widely varies.

Pre-Transplant Education

There is a lot of information to digest before your child's transplant — and you will probably have a lot of questions. At Children's Wisconsin, providing you with the information you need before the transplant is important. Through your transplant coordinator, we establish an open, ongoing dialogue. You will receive a copy of our transplant manual and also have a chance to meet with all key members of your child's transplant team.

Kidney Availability

If your child is on the UNOS list for a new kidney, it is hard to predict how long the wait will be. Once a suitable kidney is available, things move quickly. Your transplant coordinator will contact you immediately and guide you through the next steps. First, you will bring your child to the hospital as soon as possible. Next, our team performs a physical exam, additional blood work and diagnostic tests to be sure the donor organ is a good fit for your child.

Kidney Transplant

It usually takes about three or four hours to attach your child's new kidney. Unlike other organ transplants, kidney transplants usually do not require removal of your child's damaged kidneys. Instead, we place the new kidney in a different area. Throughout the surgery, our team keeps you updated on your child's progress.

Aftercare

After the transplant, your child will be moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for immediate recovery. There, the most important things we watch for are organ rejection and kidney function. As your child improves, they will be moved to a regular unit and we will continue watching for complications. Your child will be started on the required medications to prevent rejection and infection. Your team will give you information regarding all of the medications that will be needed following the transplant. Your child will be cared for by the nephrology and transplant surgery teams. This entire multidisciplinary team will participate in preparing you and your child for discharge.

About Follow-up Care

Long-term health following kidney transplant requires regular return visits to monitor your child's progress. In addition, your child will need to be on anti-rejection medication and other drugs, all of which our team will help guide. You may have to continue to watch for signs of rejection. We will teach you what to look for and what to do if that occurs. You will be given information about who to call if there are problems. We also provide the clinic follow-up plan.

The group of specialists involved in the care of children who are undergoing a transplant procedure is often referred to as the "transplant team." Each individual works together to provide the best chance for a successful transplant. The kidney transplant team consists of:

• Transplant surgeons: Physicians who specialize in transplantation and who will be performing the surgery. The transplant surgeons coordinate all team members. They follow your child before the transplant and continue to follow your child after the transplant and after discharge from the hospital.
• Nephrologists: Physicians who specialize in disorders of the kidneys. Nephrologists will help manage your child before and after the surgery.
• Urologists: Physicians who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the genitourinary tract.
• Transplant nurse coordinators: Nurses who organize all aspects of care provided to your child before and after the transplant. The nurse coordinator will provide patient education and coordinate the diagnostic testing and follow-up care.
• Social workers: Professionals who will provide support to your family and help your family deal with many issues that may arise including lodging and transportation, finances, and legal issues. They can also help coordinate alternative means for school, so that your child does not get behind.
• Dietitians: Professionals who will help your child meet their nutritional needs before and after the transplant. They will work closely with you and your family.
• Child psychologists: A psychologist who specializes in children will assist both the family and staff to cope with kidney disease and transplant.
• Pastoral care: Chaplains who provide spiritual care and support.
• Other team members: Several other team members will evaluate your child before transplantation and provide follow-up care, as needed. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Pharmacists
  • Anesthesiologists
  • Hematologists
  • Infectious disease specialists
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Lab technicians
  • Child life specialists

Why Is a Kidney Transplant Recommended?

A kidney transplant is recommended for children who have serious kidney dysfunction and will not be able to live without dialysis or a transplant. Some of the kidney diseases in children for which transplants are done include the following. However, not all cases of the following diseases require kidney transplantation. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Congenital kidney obstructive disorders leading to hydronephrosis, including the following:

• Ureteropelvic junction obstruction
• Vesicoureteral reflux
• Posterior urethral valves
• Prune belly syndrome
• Megaureter
• Congenital nephrotic syndrome
• Alport syndrome
• Nephropathic and juvenile cystinosis
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Glomerulonephritis

How Many Children in the United States Need Kidney Transplants?

According to the latest statistics from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, 990 children were waiting for a kidney transplant in the United States on Aug. 7, 2015, including the following:

• 242 in the newborn to 5 years age group
• 196 in the 6 to 10 years age group
• 552 in the 11 to 17 years age group

Where Do Transplanted Organs Come From?

The majority of kidneys that are transplanted come from deceased organ donors. Organ donors are adults or children who have become critically ill and will not live as a result of their illness. An adult donor may have agreed to be an organ donor before becoming ill. Parents or spouses can also agree to donate a relative's organs. Donors can come from any part of the United States. This type of transplant is called a cadaveric transplant.

A child receiving a transplant usually receives only one kidney, but, in rare situations, the child may receive two kidneys from a cadaveric donor. Family members or individuals who are unrelated but make a good match may also be able to donate one of their kidneys. This type of transplant is called a living transplant. Individuals who donate a kidney can live healthy lives with the kidney that remains. Most children requiring kidney transplants weigh more than 15 kilograms, or 33 pounds.

How Are Transplanted Organs Allocated?

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is responsible for transplant organ distribution in the United States. UNOS oversees the allocation of many different types of transplants, including liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lung, and cornea.

UNOS receives data from hospitals and medical centers throughout the country regarding adults and children who need organ transplants. The medical transplant team that currently follows your child is responsible for sending the data to UNOS and updating them as your child's condition changes.

Criteria have been developed to ensure that all people on the waiting list are judged fairly as to the severity of their illness and the urgency of receiving a transplant. Once UNOS receives the data from local hospitals, people waiting for a transplant are placed on a waiting list and given a "status" code. The people in most urgent need of a transplant are placed highest on the status list, and are given first priority when a donor kidney becomes available.

When a donor organ becomes available, a computer searches all the people on the waiting list for a kidney and sets aside those who are not good matches for the available kidney. A new list is made from the remaining candidates. The person at the top of the specialized list is considered for the transplant. If that person is not a good candidate, for whatever reason, the next person is considered, and so forth. Some reasons that people lower on the list might be considered before a person at the top include the size of the donor organ and the geographic distance between the donor and the recipient.

How Is My Child Placed on the Waiting List for a New Kidney?

An extensive evaluation must be completed before your child can be placed on the transplant list. Testing includes:

• Blood tests
• Diagnostic tests
• Psychological and social evaluation of the child (if old enough) and the family

Tests are done to gather information that will help determine how urgent it is that your child is placed on the transplant list, as well as ensure the child receives a donor organ that is a good match. These tests include those to analyze the general health of the body, including the child's heart, lung, and kidney function, the child's nutritional status, and the presence of infection.

Blood tests will help improve the chances that the donor organ will not be rejected. These tests may include:

• Blood chemistries — these may include serum creatinine, electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium), cholesterol and liver function tests

Other blood tests will help improve the chances that the donor organ will not be rejected. They may include:

• Your child's blood type - Each person has a specific blood type: type A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+. AB-, O+ or O-. When receiving a transfusion, the blood received must be a compatible type with your child's own or an allergic reaction will occur. The same allergic reaction will occur if the blood contained within a donor organ enters your child's body during a transplant. Allergic reactions can be avoided by matching the blood types of your child and the donor.
• Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and panel reactive antibody (PRA) - These tests help determine the likelihood of success of an organ transplant by checking for antibodies in your child's blood. Antibodies are made by the body's immune system in reaction to a foreign substance, such as a blood transfusion or a virus. Antibodies in the bloodstream will try to attack transplanted organs. Therefore, children who receive a transplant will take medications that decrease this immune response. The higher your child's PRA, the more likely that an organ will be rejected.
• Kidney, liver and other vital organ function tests.
• Viral studies — These tests determine if your child has antibodies to viruses that may increase the likelihood of complications from the transplant, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV).

The diagnostic tests that are performed are extensive, but necessary to understand the complete medical status of your child.

The following are some of the other tests that may be performed, although many of the tests are decided on an individual basis:

• Kidney ultrasound: A non-invasive test in which a transducer is passed over the kidney producing sound waves which bounce off of the kidney, transmitting a picture of the organ on a video screen. The test is used to determine the size and shape of the kidney, and to detect a mass, kidney stone, cyst, or other obstruction or abnormality.
• Kidney biopsy: A procedure in which tissue samples are removed (with a needle or during surgery) from the kidney for examination under a microscope.
• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP): A series of x-rays of the kidney, ureters, and bladder with the injection of a contrast dye into the vein to detect tumors, abnormalities, kidney stones or any obstructions and to assess renal blood flow.

The transplant team will consider all information from interviews, your child's medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests in determining whether your child can be a candidate for kidney transplantation.

After the evaluation and your child has been accepted to have a kidney transplant, your child will be placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) list.

How Long Will It Take To Get a New Kidney?

There is no definite answer to this question. Sometimes, children wait only a few days or weeks before receiving a donor organ. If no living-related donor is available, it may take months or years on the waiting list before a suitable donor organ is available. During this time, your child will receive close follow-up with the physicians and the transplant team.

How Are We Notified When a Kidney Is Available?

You will be notified by phone or pager that an organ is available. You will be told to come to the hospital immediately so your child can be prepared for the transplant.

What Is Involved in Kidney Transplant Surgery? Once an organ becomes available to your child, you and your child will be immediately called to the hospital. This call can occur at any time, so you should always be prepared to go to the hospital, if needed. Once at the hospital, the child will have some more final blood work and tests to confirm the match of the organ.

The child will then go to the operating room. The transplant surgery may require several hours, but will vary greatly depending on each individual case. During the surgery, a member of the transplant team will keep you informed on the progress of the transplant.

What Happens After Kidney Transplant Surgery?

After surgery, your child will go to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to be closely monitored. The length of time your child will spend in the PICU will vary based on your child's unique condition. After your child is stable, they will be sent to the special unit in the hospital that cares for kidney transplant patients and will continue to be closely monitored. You will be educated on all aspects of caring for your child during this time. This will include information about medications, activity, follow-up, diet and any other specific instructions from your child's transplant team.

What Is Rejection?

Rejection is a normal reaction of the body to a foreign object. When a new kidney is placed in a person's body, the body sees the transplanted organ as a threat and tries to attack it. The immune system makes antibodies to try to kill the new organ, not realizing that the transplanted kidney is beneficial. To allow the organ to successfully live in a new body, medications must be given to trick the immune system into accepting the transplant and not thinking it is a foreign object.

What Are the Symptoms of Rejection?

The following are the most common signs and symptoms of rejection. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Tenderness over the kidney
• Elevated blood creatinine level
• High blood pressure
• Your transplant team will instruct you on who to call immediately if any of these symptoms occur.

What Is Done To Prevent Rejection?

Medications must be given for the rest of the child's life to fight rejection. Each child is unique and the transplant team has preferences for different medications. Some of the anti-rejection medications most commonly used include the following:

• Cyclosporine
• Tacrolimus
• Azathioprine
• Mycophenolate mofetil
• Prednisone
• Basiliximab

New anti-rejection medications are continually being approved. Physicians tailor drug regimes to meet the needs of each individual child. The doses of these medications may change frequently as your child's response to them changes. Because anti-rejection medications affect the immune system, children who receive a transplant will be at higher risk for infections. A balance must be maintained between preventing rejection and making your child very susceptible to infection. Blood tests to measure the amount of medication in the body are done periodically to make sure your child does not get too much or too little of the medications. White blood cells are also an important indicator of how much medication your child needs.

What About Infection?

This risk of infection is especially great in the first few months because higher doses of anti-rejection medications are given during this time. Your child will most likely need to take medications to prevent other infections from occurring. Some of the infections your child will be especially susceptible to include fungus (yeast), herpes, and respiratory viruses.

What Is the Long-Term Outlook for a Child After a Kidney Transplant?

Living with a transplant is a life-long process. Medications must be given that trick the immune system so it will not attack the transplanted organ. Other medications must be given to prevent side effects of the anti-rejection medications, such as infection. Frequent visits to and contact with the transplant team are essential. Knowing the signs of organ rejection (and watching for them on a daily basis) is critical. When the child becomes old enough, he will need to learn about anti-rejection medications (what they do and the signs of rejection), so he can eventually care for himself independently.

Every child is unique and every transplant is different. Results continually improve as physicians and scientists learn more about how the body deals with transplanted organs and search for ways to improve transplantation.