Kidney Transplant

As the only certified program in the state approved to perform kidney transplants in children, our pediatric kidney transplant specialists at Arkansas Children’s provide the experience and expertise to help our young patients. 

The conditions leading to a kidney transplant in a child are typically different than those of adults. We bring pediatric expertise to the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that result in end stage kidney disease in children and use that expertise to expedite transplant when possible. When kidney transplantation is the best option, we will work with you to ensure your child is in the best possible health for a successful transplant.

Multidisciplinary Team Approach

It can feel overwhelming to families to learn that a child needs a kidney transplant. That’s why Arkansas Children’s takes a team approach with caring experts who work with you throughout the process. From initial consultation through recovery, our team will be with you to explain the process and optimize care.

Among the support team are pediatric nephrologists, transplant surgeons and urologists, as well as nurses, a specialized pediatric transplant pharmacist, the transplant coordinator and specialists in transplant social work, child life and financial counseling. Our goal is to make this process as easy for you and your child as possible.

Types of Kidney Transplants

There are two types of kidney transplants:

• A living-donor transplant – when someone with kidney failure gets a kidney from someone who is still alive, usually a relative or close friend, but occasionally from a stranger.
• A non-living-donor transplant – when people donate their kidneys for transplant after they die. It can take a long time to find an appropriate match because there are more people in need of new kidneys than there are kidneys being donated.

Our goal is to help patients enjoy a full and productive life after their transplant. People who have kidney transplants will take medications for the rest of their lives to prevent the body from rejecting the kidney. However, many patients who have kidney transplants go on to live normal, healthy lives after they recover from surgery.

Contact the Transplant Center

If your doctor has recommended a kidney transplant, please call the transplant center at 501-364-1847 and ask for the kidney transplant coordinator or the medical director. Your local doctor can also process a referral by calling 501-364-1847.