Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How are the blood vessels and ureter connected during a kidney transplant?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
transplant
British surgeon Andrew Ready flushing a donated kidney during a transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, 2006.
During a kidney transplant, the new organ is typically implanted in the iliac fossa, a space in the groin area. To establish the necessary connections:
- Blood Vessels: The renal artery and vein of the donor kidney are surgically connected to the recipient's iliac artery and vein.1
- Ureter: The ureter from the transplanted kidney is either connected to the recipient's existing ureter or attached directly to the bladder.1
Surgeons often place a right kidney in the left iliac fossa and vice versa to facilitate the proper alignment and attachment of these blood vessels.1