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Login to My HealthKidney Transplantation
The USC Institute of Urology’s Center for Kidney Transplantation is a leader in live-donor and cadaveric kidney transplantation. Working in concert with other expert surgeons in the multi-organ transplant center in the department of general surgery, nephrologists, immunologists and transplant coordinators, our transplant team is comprised of highly skilled and dedicated specialists.
Recently, a USC urologist invented the technique of scar-free “belly-button” kidney donation surgery, and we now have more experience than any other team in the world with this procedure. This allows patients to donate a kidney in a virtually scar-free manner exclusively through the belly button.
Live-Donor
One of the premier programs at the USC Institute of Urology is living donor transplantation, or kidney donation from a living person to a patient. Living donation is preferred because it offers the best opportunity for the highest quality kidney and the shortest waiting time. In addition, there is strong evidence that kidney donation is not associated with any long-term harm to the donor.
USC surgeons were the first to describe, and now have more experience than any other team in the world in, scar-free “belly-button” kidney donor surgery. A USC urologist pioneered both the standard laparoscopic donor nephrectomy technique in the laboratory, and the newer “belly-button” donor nephrectomy technique.
Cadaveric Transplant
When living donor transplantation is not an option, our surgeons perform cadaveric kidney transplantations. Cadaver organs are acquired based on criteria set forth by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
High-Risk Transplant
This program is a unique feature within the USC Institute of Urology. Our physicians provide a wide variety of services, which include the use of marginal cadaveric kidneys, dual transplants and ABO-incompatible kidneys in select, highly-sensitized patients. With an increasing demand and a shortage of available organs, marginal kidneys offer a feasible way to improve the donor pool.
VHL
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a rare, genetic multi-system disorder. Patients with this disease experience an abnormal growth of tumors in certain parts of the body. USC urologists are available to provide therapy, as well as surgical care, for patients with this progressive disease.
Immunology & Histocompability
The USC Institute of Urology features collaboration with strong immunology and histocompatibility programs. We continue our leadership position in HLA research and in the development of accompanying clinical diagnostic testing. We have expanded our research to create a comprehensive outreach program. Our laboratory provides state-of-the-art histocompatibility and immunogenetics testing for solid organ transplantation, immune monitoring and disease diagnosis.
