Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program

About the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program

The Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado is different in all the best ways. Our wait time is significantly shorter than the national median wait times and we’ve been able to reach the highest survival rates possible. These outcomes, combined with our experienced kidney transplant team means that you’ve found the right place for your child’s kidney transplant.

Excellent kidney transplant survival rates

Our Kidney Transplant Program has a patient survival rate of 100% one year and three years after transplant.

Short kidney transplant wait times

The median waitlist time for a kidney transplant at Children’s Colorado of 9.1 months is significantly lower than the national median of 27.4 months. Multi-listing and live donor options can make that wait even shorter.

Multidisciplinary kidney care

Our multidisciplinary transplant team includes transplant surgeons, nephrologists, anesthesiologists, psychologists, pharmacists, nurse coordinators, social workers and dietitians. This approach gives your child the most complete and seamless care. As a children’s hospital ranked in the top 10 by U.S. New & World Report, we have access to many specialties right here in our hospital that your child may need to optimize their care, including hematology, urology and cardiology.

Live Donor Program

Our kidney transplant candidates benefit from our Live Donor Program, which accounts for about 35% of our kidney transplants. Live donor kidney transplants eliminate time spent waiting for a donor organ to become available, which means a transplant occurs before the child’s condition gets worse. It also helps our team plan for the transplant so they can perform the surgery at the best time, which leads to better outcomes.

Advanced donation

We also offer “advanced donation” at Children’s Colorado. Advanced donation allows a living kidney donor to choose the most convenient time for their kidney donation surgery and provide a voucher to their child who can then be prioritized to receive a living donor kidney through the National Kidney Registry when they need a transplant. This program is ideal for parents so they can donate in advance and be bedside while their child is recovering from transplant.

Paired exchange

Kidney paired exchange was originally created to overcome donor-recipient incompatibility. However, you may want to participate in a paired exchange to find a donor who is a better match for your child, while still allowing your child’s original donor to donate to another child. A better match usually means your child’s transplanted kidney will last longer and will require less immunosuppressive medication.

Why choose Children’s Colorado for your child’s kidney transplant?

Excellent outcomes for pediatric kidney transplants

Our Kidney Transplant Program has performed more than 480 kidney transplants since it was established in 1988. Our short- and long-term outcomes for pediatric kidney transplants are excellent and consistently meet or exceed the national average.

Pediatric kidney transplantation options

Our Kidney Transplant Program offers both deceased and living donor transplantation. Living kidney donation, offered through a partnership with the UCHealth Transplant Center, results in our pediatric patients receiving directed and non-directed (altruistic) options. More options mean better outcomes for your child.

Advancing treatment through research

We actively conduct ongoing transplant research to improve treatments and achieve better outcomes for our patients. We are not only advancing the techniques of transplant surgery and enhancing post-transplant recovery for our patients but also contributing to national networks and registries — helping children around the world benefit from these improvements.

Long-term care for transplant recipients

Recipients of an organ transplant will need to be on life-long medication therapy. Some of the most important medications are immunosuppressants — medications that prevent the immune system from rejecting the transplanted organ. Common side effects of immunosuppressants may include weight gain, increased blood pressure and increased risk of infection. Your healthcare team will work with you to adjust your child’s medications to minimize any side effects while keeping their transplanted organs healthy.

As your child grows, they will eventually transition to adult care and become responsible for their own health care decisions. Programs such as the Improving Pediatric to Adult Care Transitions (ImPACT) Program, in collaboration with your child's kidney transplant care specialists, help make the transition to adult care as smooth as possible and ensure that they continue to get great care throughout their lifetime.

Common diagnoses leading to kidney transplant

Kidney transplants can help kids with various kidney conditions, including:

• End-stage renal disease
• Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT)
• Nephrotoxicity
• Lupus nephritis
• Polycystic kidneys
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
• Alport syndrome
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Cystinosis
• Oxalosis
• Nephrotoxicity (drug toxicity)

For questions or to make an appointment, please contact our kidney transplant team at 720-777-6011.