Programs & Services
Kidney Transplant Program
A kidney transplant is an operation in which a person whose kidneys have failed receives a healthy kidney donated from someone who is alive or deceased. We provide kidney transplants to eligible children ages 1 through 18 whose kidneys have failed.
What to expect during surgery
The kidney transplant surgery is done at Phoenix Children's. The average surgery takes three to five hours. The donor kidney is placed in the lower abdomen. The existing kidneys may or may not be removed, based on necessity. After surgery, the child goes to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for up to two days. Most children leave the hospital in one or two weeks. A child who is having problems may need to stay longer.