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<span id="ctl00_cphcontent_ctl00_rptLoosePageData_ctl00_lblContent"><span id="ctl00_cphcontent_ctl00_rptLoosePageData_ctl00_lblContent"></span></span> <p></p> <h3><strong>Benefits of Kidney Transplantation</strong></h3> <p align="left">If you suffer from kidney failure, the <a href="/transplant-program/kidney-and-pancreas-transplant-home">GRHealth Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program</a> in Augusta, Georgia, offers kidney transplantation services that can offer significant benefits, including:</p> <ul> <li>Return to work</li> <li>Improved quality of life</li> <li>Increased life expectancy</li> <li>Freedom from dialysis treatments</li> <li>Fewer fluid and dietary restrictions</li> </ul> <p>If you are a Type I diabetic and receive a kidney/pancreas transplant, you will no longer have to rely on insulin treatments.</p> <h3>Kidney Transplant Facts</h3> <p>As of January 7, 2015, there were 101,696 patients awaiting kidney transplantation and 2,022 patients awaiting simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplantation in the United States.</p> <p>In 2014, 17,106 kidney transplants were performed in the United States.*</p> <ul> <li>5,5536 were from living donors</li> <li>11,570 were from deceased donors</li> </ul> <p>*Source: OPTN (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network), June 26, 2015</p> <h3>Living Kidney Donor Transplants</h3> <p>The GRHealth Kidney Transplant Program encourages <a href="/transplant-program/living-donor">living donation</a> when possible. There are several benefits to receiving a living donor transplant:</p> <ul> <li>Kidney living donor recipients are transplanted as soon as the donor’s evaluation has been completed. This generally takes only a few months. The average wait time for a deceased donor kidney is three years.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Since donor and recipient surgeries are closely coordinated, the time the kidney is outside the body is minimized. As a result, living donor kidney transplants function better, have fewer complications, and last longer than deceased donor kidney transplants.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Living kidney donor surgeries are scheduled weeks ahead of time, allowing recipient and donor to plan for the transplant event.</li> </ul> <p>Living donors do not always have to be family members. You can be emotionally related. Examples are your spouse, in-laws, or even friends. All potential donors undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to ensure that donation is safe for them and the kidney is an acceptable match for you.</p> <p><a href="/transplant-program/living-donor">Learn more about living donation at GRHealth.</a></p> <p>Kidney Paired Donation is an option for recipients who cannot receive a kidney from their loved one due to an incompatibility.  The GRHealth Kidney Transplant Program works with other organizations to identify a pair in a similar situation, meaning patients may benefit from a living donor transplant even if their loved one cannot donate to them.</p> <p>Learn more about kidney paired donation:</p> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.unos.org/docs/Living_Donation_KidneyPaired.pdf">OPTN Kidney Paired Donation Pilot Program brochure</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.kidneyregistry.org/">National Kidney Registry website</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://www.paireddonation.org">Alliance for Paired Donation website</a> </li> </ul> <h3>Deceased Donor Transplants</h3> <p>If you do not have a living kidney donor, you will be placed on the national waiting list for a deceased donor kidney or kidney/pancreas transplant. The <a href="http://www.unos.org">United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS)</a> is an agency which regulates the allocation of solid organs and maintains the national deceased donor waiting list.</p> <p>If you are placed on the list for a deceased donor, your waiting time will depend on your blood type, your antibody level, and when you started dialysis.  While there is no way to tell exactly how long you will wait, patients tend to wait on our list anywhere from 3 to 6 years.</p> <p><a href="/transplant-program/transplant-process">Learn about the kidney transplant process at GRHealth</a>.</p> <p><b>For more information about Kidney and Pancreas Transplant services at GRHealth, call 706-721-2888 or 1-800-736-2273, ext 2888 or e-mail <a href="mailto:kidney_transplant@gru.edu">kidney_transplant@gru.edu</a>.</b></p>

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