What to Expect from Kidney Transplantation?

Following is an example of an Organ Transplant patient's schedule for Protocol Week:

Sunday: Arrive in Tijuana.

Monday: The transplant team will welcome you at the hospital, give you a tour of the facilities, and then some lab work and imaging tests will be done. You'll end the day having a long consult with the transplant team, which will answer any questions you have.

Tuesday: The donor, and in select cases also the recipient, will be asked to collect urine from 6 am Monday morning until 6 am Tuesday morning so that 24hr creatinine tests can be run, as well as an albuminuria test and a urine culture. If not asked for a 24 hr urine collection you'll just bring the morning urine sample. Tuesday is considered the most important day because the recipient will receive an Echocardiogram, one of the most important studies in the protocol. Both recipient and donor will have an EKG done as well.

Wednesday: Recipient will receive a cystogram after 3 days coverage taking oral antibiotics to prevent any infection. (Cystogram: With a foley catheter we'll introduce contrast into your bladder to look for it's position, capacity, deformities, tumors, reflux, voiding, etc., This is very important information in some patients i.e diabetics, prior to transplantation). Donor will undergo a Urological and Angio CAT scan.

Thursday: Gastroenterology work up (Gastroduodenal series/Endoscopy. Barium Colon enema/Colonoscopy (patients 50 yrs. and older). You'll be given a special diet and laxatives the day before. Donor and Recipient will have consults with the cardiologist, psychiatrist and urologist.

Friday: The final consults, only for the recipient. Visits with the Ear Nose and Throat Specialist, dental check-up, visit with gynecologist and gastroenterologist.

Saturday-Sunday The weekend is free. Patients should relax and rest for the transplant surgery for Monday morning. You can use these days (or more if necessary), to complete your protocol in case you missed an exam or a consult, or if an additional study is required.