Its best to leave the existing non functioning kidneys(if possible) because studies have shown benefits to the overall kidney function and health of the patient.
Lotheretan on
Why keep the non working ones?Â
Ithorhun on
Can confirm, I live with a transplanted kidney since 2011
[deleted] on
[deleted]
Previous_Bet5120 on
Collecting them like the inkidney stones.
USSMarauder on
So how low does kidney function have to be before they give you a new one?
Are there people with the equivalent of 2.1 kidneys? 2.3? 2.5?
jinglechelle1 on
Unless there’s a reason to – my kidneys were polycystic and enlarged/painful. I have only my transplanted kidney now (placed as shown in your diagram.)
Firegardener on
Can you sell the failed one for a new graphics card? Do they require a functioning one? Asking for a friend.
Percolator2020 on
Meanwhile, the donor, with one kidney left.

Chadmanfoo on
Would they give you a kidney transplant if only one of them failed? I always assumed you were good with just one.
takenbreakn on
This is actually so interesting. Ty
Plenty-Giraffe6022 on
That’s assuming that there are two kidneys to start with.
ElThrowaway-619 on
I never knew this, I always just assumed they remove the one that’s damaged and replace it with the new one.
But that being said, wouldn’t the person donating the kidney be with some high risk?
TheUpgrayed on
I learned this when a co-worker had the procedure. It makes total sense but I guess I hadn’t put enough thought into it, so previously in my mind transplant also included removal, like swapping out a car battery lol.
So you’re saying I can just steal kidneys and have them implanted all over my body and become a kidney god?
ShinyBonnets on
This is not only the case. There is sometimes no room for the native kidneys to remain in place and put a new kidney in, so the diseased ones come out. Polycystic Kidney Disease is one disease where this is the case.
Source: am a donor for a friend who had PKD.
Rath_Brained on
I never knew that. I kinda figured they replaced them in the ways they would do a tire. Pop the bad one out, put the good one in.
Krakraskeleton on
Is it possible to have an operation to have a third and fourth kidney even if you don’t need it? I might in the future
ritchie636 on
Reason why they place transplanted off common illiac instead of Aorta/ivc?
okiesillydillyokieo on
Did anyone else notice they look just like kidney beans?
teensiebug on
does that mean my grandpa had four fukkin kidneys? wtf
stupidber on
Thats nice of them
Winter-Adhesiveness9 on
That’s crazy, I just have adult knees
Stillchildish on
Btw many people have more than two kidneys and most of them don’t know their whole life
Narcan9 on
Should check out the story about the guy who recently died from rabies from an infected kidney transplant. Imagine how bad your luck must be?
29 Comments
It reminds me of a gummy.
Its best to leave the existing non functioning kidneys(if possible) because studies have shown benefits to the overall kidney function and health of the patient.
Why keep the non working ones?Â
Can confirm, I live with a transplanted kidney since 2011
[deleted]
Collecting them like the inkidney stones.
So how low does kidney function have to be before they give you a new one?
Are there people with the equivalent of 2.1 kidneys? 2.3? 2.5?
Unless there’s a reason to – my kidneys were polycystic and enlarged/painful. I have only my transplanted kidney now (placed as shown in your diagram.)
Can you sell the failed one for a new graphics card? Do they require a functioning one? Asking for a friend.
Meanwhile, the donor, with one kidney left.

Would they give you a kidney transplant if only one of them failed? I always assumed you were good with just one.
This is actually so interesting. Ty
That’s assuming that there are two kidneys to start with.
I never knew this, I always just assumed they remove the one that’s damaged and replace it with the new one.
But that being said, wouldn’t the person donating the kidney be with some high risk?
I learned this when a co-worker had the procedure. It makes total sense but I guess I hadn’t put enough thought into it, so previously in my mind transplant also included removal, like swapping out a car battery lol.
https://preview.redd.it/eqjogcddg17g1.jpeg?width=150&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=efdb8911492dda4b1036e1fe220b6679ee7a5f27
So you’re saying I can just steal kidneys and have them implanted all over my body and become a kidney god?
This is not only the case. There is sometimes no room for the native kidneys to remain in place and put a new kidney in, so the diseased ones come out. Polycystic Kidney Disease is one disease where this is the case.
Source: am a donor for a friend who had PKD.
I never knew that. I kinda figured they replaced them in the ways they would do a tire. Pop the bad one out, put the good one in.
Is it possible to have an operation to have a third and fourth kidney even if you don’t need it? I might in the future
Reason why they place transplanted off common illiac instead of Aorta/ivc?
Did anyone else notice they look just like kidney beans?
does that mean my grandpa had four fukkin kidneys? wtf
Thats nice of them
That’s crazy, I just have adult knees
Btw many people have more than two kidneys and most of them don’t know their whole life
Should check out the story about the guy who recently died from rabies from an infected kidney transplant. Imagine how bad your luck must be?
Not if you have kidney cancer.
if you can live with 1 you can also live with 3