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WAKING UP IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU)
 After the surgery, the patient will wake up in the intensive care unit (ICU) after the anesthesia wears off. This is what the patient should expect:
• Some pain and discomfort, which medication will help to relieve.
• The patient will be asked to cough periodically to keep his lungs clear. If it hurts to cough, the patient should ask someone to support his abdomen.
• The patient will have an IV line in his arm or neck under the collarbone, which will be used to give fluids and medication for the first few days after surgery.
• For several days after surgery, the patient will have a catheter in his bladder to drain urine. He may feel uncomfortable, and may feel that he has to urinate constantly, but it is only temporary.
• During surgery, one drain may be placed in or near the incision. The drain will be removed 5 to 10 days after surgery.
• Dialysis may still be needed to help clear excess fluid and toxins in the body, until the kidney recovers from the procurement process.
• The length of a hospital stay will depend on a patient's progress.
 MEDICAL MANAGEMENT IN THE ACUTE CARE UNIT
After the patient's medical condition has stabilized, he will be transferred from the ICU to the acute care unit. During the patient's stay on this unit, his laboratory studies, medications, nutritional status and exercise tolerance will be monitored. As soon as the patient is able, discharge instructions will begin to prepare him for going home.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL OPERATIONS HAVE RISKS THAT PATIENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF. PLEASE NOTE THE RISKS CONNECTED TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SURGERY WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION.
The risks for any anesthesia are:
• Problems breathing
• Reactions to medications
The risks for any surgery are:
• Bleeding
• Infection
Other risks related to the procedure include:
• Blood clots (deep venous thrombosis)
• Heart attack or stroke
• Wound infections
• Side effects from medications used to prevent transplant rejection, including:
• Increased risk for infections
• Damage to your liver or other organs
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