Why might a kidney from a deceased donor take time to begin working?

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Kidney transplant — transplant British surgeon Andrew Ready flushing a donated kidney during a transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, 2006.

Kidneys transplanted from deceased donors may not begin functioning immediately because the organ requires time for its tissues to adjust and recover from the period of ischemia (deprivation of blood supply) that occurs between removal and implantation.12

While kidneys from living donors are typically transplanted immediately, cadaver kidneys must be preserved and transported, which can lead to temporary damage. Following the surgery, it may take up to two weeks for these tissues to become functional. During this recovery period, the recipient may require temporary treatment with an artificial kidney to support renal function while the transplanted organ repairs itself.132