Risks of a kidney transplant
Serious problems are rare, but like any operation, it is not risk-free
Key points
- Not every patient feels better after having a kidney transplant
- A kidney transplant is major surgery and you’ll need to take strong medicines afterwards, which can cause problems
- The risks of transplantation can broadly be divided into early risks and longer-term risks
- All donated organs have the potential to come with health risks
Understanding your risks
Most patients who have a kidney transplant do very well and have many years of good kidney transplant function. The risks of a transplant are, in general, much lower than staying on dialysis. However, it’s important that you’re aware of the risks as well as the benefits of kidney transplantation. This will help you to understand transplantation, and to be prepared if there are problems after the transplant.
Watch our short video about risk levels
Risk levels
For a kidney transplant, each possible risk is said to be either: very common, common, uncommon or rare. This is based on the number of kidney transplant patients that have been affected by the risk.
| Risk level | Number of kidney transplant patients affected |
|---|---|
| Very common | More than 10 in 100 |
| Common | Between 1 in 100 and 10 in 100 |
| Uncommon | Between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 100 |
| Rare | Fewer than 1 in 1000 |
Example: Very common risk
This image below is a visual representation of a complication that affects 15 in 100 people.
Example: Common risk
This image below is a visual representation of a complication that affects 15 in 100 people.
Speak to your kidney doctor about your risks
This information summarises the risks for most patients. But your transplant journey is unique. Your kidney doctor will be able to discuss in more detail the risks you might face.