Just before the surgery, the recipient will be started on immunosuppression medications, and will have a few investigations such as blood work, chest x-ray and an ECG.
The transplant surgery takes 3-5 hours. Once the recipient and the kidney are verified for the surgery, a central IV will be inserted to administer the rest of the immunosuppression medications, and allow for fluid administration. A urinary catheter will be inserted after anesthesia to monitor the urine output.
An opening (about 12cm) is made in the lower part of the abdomen, on the right or left side, and the new kidney is placed there. Blood vessels from the kidney will be connected to the recipient's blood vessels, and the ureter (urine tube) will be connected to the bladder.