Types of Pediatric Kidney Transplants

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is home to one of the nation’s most established and experienced pediatric kidney transplant programs. Our team has exceptional success performing all types of kidney transplants. We treat children with kidney failure (end-stage renal disease) and other life-threatening kidney diseases. You can trust your child’s care to us.

Expertise in Multiple Types of Pediatric Kidney Transplants

Experts in our Kidney Transplant Program have successfully performed more than 1,000 kidney transplants in children since 1967. Our patient survival rates exceed national averages. Our transplant team has the expertise to transplant kidneys from deceased and living donors. Our goal is to safely give your child a transplant as quickly as possible.

Your child’s kidney condition, current health status and the availability of a donor kidney determine the type of kidney transplant they get. Experts in our human leucocyte antigen (HLA) lab conduct specialized tests to ensure the best possible organ match between your child and their donor. This testing lowers the chances of your child’s body rejecting the donor kidney.

Living and Deceased Donor Kidney Transplants: What’s the Difference?

In general, a child who is at least 2 years old has enough room in their belly to fit a donor kidney from a deceased or living adult donor. Because of their smaller body size, infants and younger children may need to wait for a smaller kidney from a deceased pediatric donor or smaller adult donor. Sometimes, an infant or small child needs dialysis until they grow big enough to receive an adult kidney.

Living donor kidney transplants for children

A living kidney donor may be an adult family member, friend or stranger who volunteers to donate one of their kidneys. Donors can lead full lives with one functioning kidney. We have a highly successful living donor kidney transplant program for children.

Potential living donors have testing and kidney donation surgery at Keck Medicine of USC. The USC team provides dedicated care to protect the health of living donors, while CHLA cares for your child. Learn more about living donor kidney transplants.

Deceased donor kidney transplants for children

Our surgeons expertly perform pediatric kidney transplants using one kidney from a deceased organ donor. Our kidney transplant team has decades of experience matching donor kidneys to transplant recipients. Our goal is to improve your child’s chances of a successful transplant procedure.

Kidney Transplant Care at Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Our expert surgeons perform all types of pediatric kidney transplants. Learn more about the leading-edge care our Kidney Transplant Program provides.

Contact us

The Kidney Transplant Program at CHLA welcomes new patients, referrals and second opinions. Please contact us to make an appointment.