Advancements in Kidney Transplantation

In 1963, Cleveland Clinic peformed the first kidney transplant in Northeast Ohio and became a recognized pioneer in the field of organ transplantation.  Since then, more than 3,500 kidney transplants have been performed.  Cleveland Clinic has acquired vast experience in the surgical techniques of successful kidney transplantation.  In addtion, transplant patients are provided with world-class medical and nursing care, along with emotional support, through the entire transplant process.

Cleveland Clinic Surgeon Performs First Robotic Partial Removal of Transplanted Kidney Tumor

Jihad Kaouk, MD, Director of the Center for Robotic and Image-Guided Surgery at the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, recently performed the first robotic partial nephrectomy on a patient with a 7cm tumor in her transplanted kidney.

History:  A routine ultrasound on a 35-year-old woman revealed a large mass on the transplanted kidney she had received from her father 24 years ago.  The patient presented to Cleveland Clinic after consults with two other centers.  Both centers had recommended total nephrectomy with resultant need for dialysis.

Cleveland Clinic consult: Additional testing was done to determine the proximity of the tumor to the renal vessels.  Examination of a CT scan revealed the feasibility of removing only the cancerous part of the kidney. Our experience and confidence gained in more than 1,000 laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomies was critical in such a decision.

Surgery:  A robotic partial nephrectomy was performed successfully.  The modified robotic approach allowed for more controlled surgery to minimize bleeding and the removal of the tumor alone with reasonable warm ischemia time.  The patient was kept in the hospital only a few days for observation due to the complexity of the procedure.  One week postop the patient was doing fine and had no pain.  Surgical margins were negative and serum creatinine returned to baseline two weeks after surgery.

Outcome:  By preserving the transplanted kidney, the patient was spared losing the transplanted kidney and long-term dialysis treatment.

Donor Wellness Initiative

Cleveland Clinic's Transplant Center offers a unique program of wellness assessment and maintenance designed to ensure the continued good health of our kidney donor patients.  Called the 'Donor Wellness Initiative,' or 'Donor Win,' the program consists of:

• A detailed physical examination
• Sophisticated measurement of cardiovascular health
• Dietary and fitness evaluations
• Evaluation of kidney function

Download the current
Kidney Transplant Guide for
Recipients and Donors